D4S: Demography and Health: AUSTRALIA AND INDIA - Essay Example

Demography and Health J. Bailey How many births are there per woman in India? 2.84 births per woman   The high birth rate in India can be attributed to the poverty that leads people to perceive children to be extra members of the family’s workforce. Apart from this, the lack of awareness regarding birth-control measures is also a problem in India. Patriarchal social codes also cause people to prefer girls over boys, a practice that leads to a high birth rate (Khurana, n.d.).
2. How many births are there per woman in Australia? 1.77 births per woman  
Better awareness amongst people regarding the problems of a high population causes a moderate and healthy birth rate in Australia. This is also the result of an awareness regarding the resources at a person’s disposal. The relatively better position of women in the society leads to them having a say in the number of children they have. All these factors combine to place Australia’s birth rate below the replacement level.
3. What is the average life expectancy in Australia? 80.62
Superior medical services help place the average life expectancy level in Australia quite high. Australia has great natural resources and the state of health welfare in the country is very good. Awareness amongst people regarding the need for health programs also results in the high average life expectancy.
4. What is the average life expectancy in India? 68.59
India is a third-world country and the state of the health services in the country is very poor. This results in many people not getting the required services when they need it. The absence of good roads also makes transport from villages in the interiors to hospitals difficult. A high rate of poverty means that people would also not be able to get the required nutrition that would help them stay healthy. These factors cause the average life expectancy of India to stay quite low (Life Expectancy and Mortality India, n.d.)
5. What is the morbidity rate in India? 6.4 deaths/1,000 population
Morbidity rate refers to the frequency of the incidence of a disease in a given population. As a developing country, India’s rates in this area are commendable. The practices of using tobacco in various forms however, results in the incidence of many avoidable diseases (Leading Causes of Death in India, n.d.).
6. What is the morbidity rate in Australia? 6.68 deaths/1,000 population
A morbidity rate that is not low indicates the glitches in the health services that are provided by Australia to its citizens.
7. What is the ratio of disabled citizens in India? 6%
The lack of facilities for disabled citizens means that many of them do not live beyond a certain age. This results in a low incidence of such people in the population. The lack of proper amenities for their use also results in their social marginalization that ultimately translates into lesser numbers.
8. What is the ratio of disabled citizens in Australia?18%
Good facilities for the disabled in Australia enable them to lead a relatively peaceful life. They are a part of the mainstream society and they are not excluded from the amenities that are provided by the government. This automatically translates into a greater number of such citizens in the country.
References
Khurana, Shona. (n.d.). “What are the causes of High Birth Rate in India?”. Preserve Articles. Retrieved 4th May, 2012 from http://www.preservearticles.com/201012271785/causes-of-high-birth-rate.html
“Life Expectancy and Mortality India”. (n.d.). Indian Child. Retrieved 4th May, 2012 from http://www.indianchild.com/life_expectany_mortality_india.htm
“Leading Causes of Death in India”. (n.d.). Mega Essays. Retrieved 4th May, 2012 from http://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/98389.html Read More