YOUTHFUL POP.

• like many LEDCS, Uganda has youthful pop.
  2007: 50% pop. were under 15 & only 3% were 65+.
  pop. is becoming more youthful.

WHY?

• high BR & fertility rate - each yr, there are 48 babies born per 100 people & women have an average of 7 children during their reproductive yrs.
• low LE: around 52 yrs
  = very few elderly: means proportion of pop. made up of youths = v. high.

• main problem: overpopulation caused by high BR.
  uganda's pop. currently = 30 million, but by 2025 thought to grow to about 56 mil.
  too many people, too little resources means. . .
• pressure on health service
  - around 6000 women die per yr during childbirth.
  - when youthful pop. reaches reproductive age, pressure will be even greater, leading to more deaths.
  - health service is also stretched due to HIV/AIDS - passed from mom to baby & through unprotected sex.
  therefore HIV/AIDS may further spread when youthful pop. have children = more strain on health system.
• unemployment could get worse
  - 2003: unemployment in Uganda: 3.2%
  - however, 50% pop = under 15 & so weren't counted in these figures.
  - when large youthful pop. reaches workin age, there will not be enough jobs for them all = unemployment will rise further = increased poverty.

• encouraging family planning & contraceptives:
  - use of contraceptives among married women = less than 25%.
  - new policies encouraging contraceptives allow women to plan how many kids they have & when they have them.
  e.g. Govt. bought in free condoms.
  HOWEVER:
  - family planning clinics aren't widespread - many do not have access to birth control.
  - since 1991, BR has increased, suggesting pop. management method isn't working.
• policies to combat spread of HIV/AIDS
  - late 80s: programme of education: ABC approach introduced:
  Abstain from sex until marriage, Be faithful to 1 partner & use Condoms.
  - strategy worked - HIV infection rates fell from 15% in all adults - 1991 to 5% - 2001.