Birth Rate Control Proposal - Research Paper Example

College Birth Rate Control Proposal High birth rates have huge implications on the quality of life for the children, resource usage and determination of the quality of life for families. However, most of the people bearing children today are either in unfit social conditions or do not have the capacity to bring up the child in the right atmosphere while others have some hereditary diseases, which makes it possible to propagate some diseases for generations down the line, with increased suffering among those involved. I propose a program that if adhered to would significantly reduce birthrates in the country by discouraging people with low incomes and poor people from having more than one child, and those with terminal and hereditary diseases from bearing a child and do recommend adoption of children by such families. This program requires legislation to formulate a solid base for implementation in the ministries of health and planning. Introduction Uncontrolled bearing of children has numerous ramifications to the society with the government bearing the heaviest burden. For instance, though the government has spent billions of dollars in poverty elevation and reduction programs, poverty is indeed worsening instead of reducing (Roy, 2013). The Welfare program that the government has been using in supporting the poor and the less fortunate in the society has been abused in that some people have been relying on the program to raise their families. For instance, in 1992 Clinton’s campaign was based on abolishing welfare in the US government and in making the program a second option and not a way of life for many (Roy, 2013). This was followed by the signing of the Welfare Reform bill of 1996 that required those in welfare program to seek jobs or lose their benefits (Roy, 2013). Since then, welfare has increased tremendously in the country with the 2013 study revealing that welfare remitted more than $10 per hour in 33 states, while in the other states, welfare remitted less than $8 per hour. In fact, today, welfare pays much better than the minimum wage in more than 35 states, in America. This suggests some people entitled to welfare benefits have a better life than those working in the field. Another disadvantage of welfare is that the benefits are tax free unlike salaries that are taxed. Therefore, welfare is a huge burden to the taxpayer in the US. On the same note, considering that poverty is on the increase rather than on the decrease; this suggests that even poor people depending on welfare are bearing more children to be supported by the government, a situation that needs to be controlled. Teens are also bearing children due to peer pressure and motivation from the media. For instance, research has revealed that the program Teen Mum aired on MTN has contributed in many teenagers bearing children with the number of birth rates among teens in US being the highest among developed nations, and twice the birth rate of teens in Canada (Chang & Hopper, 2011 & Karen et al (316). There is a need to demulsify the myths held by teens and which are contributing to the high birth rate in  discouraging teens from having children at an early age, and before they have stabilized financially. Another factor that leads to social problems is bearing of children among people who are not mentally fit to bear and bring up children; children from such mothers lack proper care as they grow up (Kauffman, 315). On the other hand, adopting children in the US is an extremely tedious and expensive process that discourages many prospective parents from adopting children (Gilman and Fleivalds, par 5). The result is that there are many children who are suffering psychologically due to lack of a decent family, a situation that can only be solved by controlling birth rates. This will help in ensuring fewer children are born in families with the right capacity to look after them with the right care and concern. This proposal aims at recommending a program that may limit birth rates in the society by considering factors such as the income of the family, mental and physical health ability to bring-up the child among other necessary factors that would be important in ensuring all children have a decent life. Discussion The proposed solution seeks to limit the number of births based on four major criteria that have to be weighted depending on the importance of each of the criteria. The criteria to be considered are: The level of income. Presence of terminal and hereditary diseases Physical and mental health General preparedness The program aims at limiting to the very best possible number of children born in the country and regulating population growth while at the same time ensuring only those with the ability to bring up children in the right social environment and in the right health are allowed. This will also help in discouraging the issue of early pregnancies among the teens, which has been on the increase (Leishman, 33-34). There will be a need for further legislation to determine the type of terminal and hereditary diseases that have to be eliminated in the society and whose victims may be prevented from having children. There is also a need for legislation to determine the minimum income level that a family has to attain before they are allowed to have more than one child. Moreover, there will be a need for legislation to simplify the adoption of children such that those who are found ineligible to have children are given the option to adopt a child in a simpler process. In case any counseling is needed, especially for teens and underage persons the psychiatrist will recommend the client for a counseling session within the hospital. Plan of action The program proposes legislation to make it mandatory for persons to undergo the above tests before they contemplate of having a child, failure to which some penalty has to apply. Before, having a child, one has to visit a health facility for the necessary checks by healthy professionals who have to undertake the four tests before the births registration committee makes the recommendations. Once a couple visits the health facility with a view of taking the tests, they will be required to fill a form stating in their income in the last two years, they area of residence among other details. Each member will state his/her medical history and whether there are special medical conditions within their extended families. If the nurse finds it necessary then he/she may recommend further tests with a view of detecting any hereditary medical condition. Each couple will then meet a psychiatrist in the same department who will carry out the relevant tests to determine their mental health. This will prevent cases ere dumb people have more than one child. If the mother is below 21 years of age, the psychiatrist has to probe whether the mother is determined to have a child or it is a case of influence. The psychiatrist has to  probge through questions to determine the general preparedness of the couple. The two medics will then compile separate reports and hand hem to the Births recommendation committee, which will discuss the reports on a one by one basis and recommend whether the couple may be allowed to have another child or not. This decision will then be passed to the nurse in charge, and he verdict sent to the nurse and a couple with the reasons behind the conclusion. The legislation will lay out the necessary penalty for anyone failing to adhere to the set recommendations. These services will be free to a patient except in private hospitals where the patients have to pay for the services offered. All birth requests have to be addressed to the registrar of persons in the area of administration. Budget Considering that the committee in charge of births and the other personnel will be based in the registrar of births’ offices, the cost would be relatively low and will be met by the state in all government owned hospitals. The committee will consist of the staff from the registrar of persons, whose salaries will be from the exchequer. Chain of command Registrar of births/deaths (registrar of persons office) Births recommendation committee (committee in the office of registrar) Psychiatrist in charge of births (health facility) Nurse in charge of births (health facility) Client Schedule of implementation The entire process has to be completed within three weeks, and the couple has to expect the final decision within this duration Week 1- couple visits a health facility as would be legislated -physical tests carried out, couple details their background information and social class identified. The number of born children recorded where applicable. - Client visits a psychiatrist within the same day or within the same week for mental health check up Week 2. - The nurse and psychiatrist prepare reports based on their findings and hands them to the committee of births recommendations in the region. Week 3.- Committee sits and reviews all the requests made and makes the appropriate recommendations Week 4- committee writes to the registrar of births and the client stating their decision and reasons behind the decision. Possible opposition One of the major opposition expected is the argument that the program violates the rights and freedoms of people to found a family and bear children. However, if population growth is not regulated, more harm will result as many people fight for limited resources. These effects make population control a logical and better idea than dealing with the effects of overpopulation. Conclusion The proposed program would succeed in eliminating some genetically inherited diseases, discouraging poor families from having more than one child, ensure couples only desire to have children when they are prepared and have planned for the same. This will eliminate cases where people depend on welfare to look after large families. The success of this program will go a long way in alleviating suffering among many children in the future. Work cited Chang, Juju and Hopper, Jessica. Pregnancy Pressure: Is MTV's 'Teen Mom' Encouraging Pregnancy for Fame? abcNews, Feb 11, 2011. http://abcnews.go.com/US/teen-pregnancy-fame-friends-teen-mom-star-jenelle/story?id=12891932 11th Dec, 2013 Gilamna, Lois and Freialds, Susan. Adopting smart: How it works and how much it costs. Adoptive Families Magazine. 2003-2004. http://www.babycenter.com/0_adopting-smart-how-it-works-and-how-much-it-costs_1373536.bc11th Dec, 2013 Kauffman, E. Joseph. Deaf and Dumb. Philadelphia, PA: Xlibris Corp., 2010. Keren, Eyal, Dale Kunkel, Erica, N. Bieley and Finnerty, L. Keli. Sexual Socialization Messages on Television Programs Most Popular Among Teens. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media. 51.2 (2007) 316-336. Roy, Avik. On Labor day 2013: Welfare pays more than minimum wage work in 35 states. Forbes. Sept 2, 2013. http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/09/02/on-labor-day-2013-welfare-pays-more-than-minimum-wage-work-in-35-states/11th Dec, 2013 Read More