Families and Households: Demography Flashcards
Death rate
The number of deaths per thousand of the population per year
Death rate statistics (1900-2012)
1900: 19
2012: 8.9
Reasons for the decline of the death rate: low deaths from infectious diseases
- 3/4 of deaths from the 1850-1970s was due to the decline in the deaths from infectious diseases
- 1950s “Diseases of Affluence” e.g. cancer, replaced infectious diseases // due to natural resistance developed
Reasons for the decline of the death rate: Improved nutrition
- Mckeown: Reduced up to half of death rate esp from tuberculosis due to increase of resistance to infection and survival rates
- Fails to explain how women who receive a smaller share of family food supply live longer than men
Reasons for the decline of the death rate: Medical improvements
- After 1950s: improved medical knowledge, techniques and organisation
- Advances inc. intro to antibiotics, immunisation, blood transfusions, improved maternity services
- 1948: Intro to the NHS
Reasons for the decline of the death rate: Smoking and Diet
- Harper: Obesity replaced smoking as the new lifestyle epidemic
- 2012: 1/4 of adults were obese (kept low due to drug therapies)
- Moved to an American health culture where lifestyles are unhealthy but long lifespan is achieved through costly medication
Reasons for the decline of the death rate: Public Health Measures and Environmental improvements
- Central and local government enforced laws, leading to a range of improvement in public health and safety
- Inc improvements in housing e.g. less crowded accommodation
- Purer drinking water, combat adulteration of food and drink
Life Expectancy
How long on average a person born in a given year can expect to live
Life expectancy statistics (1900-2013)
- 1900: men = 50, women = 57
2013: men = 90, women = 94
What did Harper say about life expectancy?
If trend of greater longevity continues, we will soon achieve ‘radical longevity’ w/ more centenarians (prediction of 1 million by 2100)
Life expectancy: class, gender, region and ethnic differences
- Women live longer (gap narrowed due to more women smoking)
- Those in the North have a lower life expectancy
- WC men are 3x more likely to die before 65
- Walker: Those in the poorest area die 7 yrs earlier than those in richer areas
Birth rate
The number of live births per 1000 of the population per year
Factors affecting the birth rate
- Proportion of women who are of childbearing age (15-44)
- How fertile they are (how many they have)
Total fertility rate
- Average number of children women have during fertile years
TFR statistics
- Increased since 2001 (1.62) to 2012 (1.94)
What do the TFR stats reflect?
- Women are remaining childless
- Postponing having children - fertility rates aged 30-40 are increasing // fewer fertile years so produce less children
Reason for the decline in birth rate 1900-2001: Changes in the position of women
- Education has allowed women to change their mindset and see other possibilities in life other than being a house wife
- Once a pattern of low fertility rates lasts for more than one generation, culture norms about family size change
Infant Mortality Rate
Measures the number of infants who die before their first birthday, per thousand babies born alive, per year
Reason for the decline in birth rate 1900-2001: Decline in the Infant Mortality Rate
- Harper: lead to a decline in birth rates, if infants survive, parents will have fewer children to ‘replace’ the ones they have lost
Reasons for the decline in the IMR
- Improving housing and sanitation - reducing infectious diseases (infants are more susceptible to infection due to less developed immune system)
- Better knowledge of hygiene child health and welfare (magazines)
- Improved services for mothers and children e.g. antenatal and postnatal clinics
Infant Mortality Rate statistics
- 1950: 30
- 2012: 4
Evaluation of the IMR: Brass and Kabir
- Argue trend to smaller areas began in urban areas
- IMR first began in rural area // suggests practices may not affect birth rates in the way we think they have
Reason for the decline in birth rate 1900-2001: Children as economic liabilities
- Children used to be an asset to their family as they could be sent out to work
- Laws banning child labour, compulsory schooling mean they remain economically dependant on parents for longer
- FInancial pressures = less willing to have a larger family
Impact of fertility changes: the family
- Smaller families = women can work and create a dual earner cypical of many professional families
- Fewer children = childhood may be a lonelier experience + more childless adults = less voices speaking up in support of child’s interests
