1.2a Fertility and Influencing Factors

Fertility can be measured in several different ways which can sometimes make the topic confusing. It is therefore important to distinguish between the main types of fertility so that confusion is minimised.

1.2b Fertility-Measures Fertility Rate—this is the number of children

born to women of child-bearing age. Total Fertility Rate (TFR)—this is the

number of children a woman in a particular population is expected to have during her lifetime based on current birth rates for that particular population. TFR’s can be calculated at the local, national and global scale. For example, the TFR for the world is a little over three.

1.2c Fertility Measures Birth Rate—the proportion of a

population that is newborn. Crude Birth Rate—the most frequent

measure of fertility-it is the number of live births per annum compared to the total population and is expressed numerically per 1000.

Fecundity.

1.2d Which factors influence fertility?

Education of women or literacy rates Culture and Religion Personal choices Standard of living and wealth Mortality rates and infant mortality Health issues political

policy--incentives/disincentives

1.2e Grouping the influences The previous list of factors can be

more conveniently grouped under headings such as:

Sociocultural factors Economic factors

Percentage of women of child bearing age and fertility rates

% women of child bearing age

Fertility rate

1965 1991 1970 1991Low Income countries 46 51 6 3.8

Middle income countries

45 49 5 3.2

High Income countries 42 49 3.9 2.1

World 46 50 5 3.3

1.2f Sociocultural ExamplesSociocultural Examples Example

The Status of Women In some Sub Saharan African nations women have limited access to an education and are expected to tend crops and raise families. In such countries the TFR is high.

Low Literacy Rates As above, but sometimes a lack of education about matters such as child birth and contraceptive measures can lead to higher fertility rates.

Nature of Employment In LEDC's many children are needed to assist with generating income in labour intensive industries like farming.

In MEDC's secondary and tertiary industries dominate and laws prohibit child labour.

Health Care Disease, particularly the AIDS virus in Botswana, Africa. Here the TFR of 2.85 is significantly below the world average of 3.1 due to a higher than usual mortality rate of women of child-bearing age.

Religion Devout Catholicism for example prohibits the use of some forms of contraception (e.g. the condom).

Attitudes and Values For some communities abortion is simply not an option.

1.2g Economic Influences In MEDC’s the

high cost of rearing children has lead to falling fertility and negative population growth

In LEDC’s where the economy is predominantly agrarian, fertility remains high.

1.2h Spatial Patterns

Orange=above replacement level.

yellow=replacement level.

Blue =below replacement level.

2.1 is the rate required to achieve a replacement level in the population.

Currently, 61 countries have a TFR of 2.1 or less.

The USA has the highest TFR in the “Western World” of 2.1.

Selected Country World Rank Fertility Children/woman

Continent

Niger 1 7.5 Africa

Somalia 2 7.3 Africa

Malawi 14 6.4 Africa

Ivory Coast 45 5.2 Africa

Philippines 77 3.5 Asia

Turkey 116 2.5 Europe

USA 129 2.1 North America

New Zealand 134 2 Oceania

UK 154 1.7 Europe

Sweden 170 1.5 Europe

Russia 191 1.2 Europe/Asia

Czech Republic 197 1.1 Europe

Non-replacement of the population Anxiety amongst MEDC’s Weaken a countries position in the world Supporting an ageing population Influenced by better health and welfare

provision Improved pre-natal care Emancipation of women High cost of child care High cost of housing Government Policy Decline in reproductive age sector