Reasons For High Birth Rates

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  • Created by: ferne23
  • Created on: 02-05-16 11:44

Cultural and Social Reasons

  • Many Cultures the greater the number of children a man has, the greater his prestige and standing in society. 
  • A desire for a son to carry on the family name is important = Parents keep having children untill they have a son.
  • As in many countries there isn't very good healthcare for the eldrely, many couples have many children to ensure that they will be looked after in their old age. 
  • Many men is particular societies are POLYGAMOUS - Eg, King Sobhuza of Swazilan had 70 wives and 210 children.
  • In many societies girls marry young and have children at a young age = have more children in their lifetime. 

POLYGAMOUS = willfully and knowingly having more than one wife or husband at the same time.

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Religious and Demographic Reasons

RELIGIOUS

  • Some religions oppose any form of contraception and encourage families to have children.

Example = LEDC countries with high Catholic, Hindu or Muslim populations often have particularly high birth rates - however this is not always the case, as natural birth control is permitted.

DEMOGRAPHIC

  • Countries with a high proportion of females of child-bearing age will tend to have higher birth rates.
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Economic Reasons

  • To provide a source of labour for the family, to increase yield.
  • In poorer economies the chance of a good education is limited and a privlage for a few. Without the abilty to read, many people have no knowadge about contraception (especially if they live in rural areas.
  • In LEDC's some people are too poor to buy contraceptives, also there isnt enough money to devlop family panning clinics and to subsidise contraception. 
  • In poor countires many couples have many children to ensure that a few actually make it too adulthood, due to the medical provision being so inadequate, diet lacking variety = HIGH INFANT MORTALITY RATE.

INFANT MORTALITY RATE = The number of children who die in their first year of life. 

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