Environmental Science IP2 - Essay Example

DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION Demographic transition is the process by which countries begin to experience low birth and death rates as they move from high birth and death rates as a result of industrial development. This phenomenon is best explained by Demographic Transition Model (DTM) which was developed after a careful observation of birth and death rates of transiting economies over a long period of time. The four phases of demographic transition are as explained below:Phase IThe first phase of demographic transition is usually marked by high death and birth rates and it can be termed as high stationery phase.

High birth rates are due to lack of family planning as methods such as the use of contraceptives are discouraged or people lack information about them. The stage is further characterized by high mortality rates which normally arise from the prevalence of communicable diseases. Poor hygienic conditions which are marked by lack of clean water and improper means of waste disposal is another key factor in this stage.Phase IIThe second phase is marked with a decline in death rate due to improved medical care, proper sanitation and increased availability of food while birth rates still remain high.

This stage is also referred to as early expanding stage. Improvement of food capacity backed up by proper storage equipment enables people to live longer until they attain adulthood. There is high fertility rate especially in rural areas where people give birth to very many children hence increased birth rates. Phase IIIThis stage is marked by a decreasing trend in the rate of births while mortality rate tends to remain constant. The decrease in birth rate arises when people begin to take up birth control measures such as the use of contraceptives so that they can be able to cope up with the rising standards of living especially in the urban centers.

This period is also termed late expanding owing to the fact that the economic status is on the rise.Phase IVThe phase is marked by stabilization in the population in which an equilibrium level between birth rate and death rate has been achieved. This is a typical case of developed economies that have attained low stationery economic growth. The death rates are extremely low due to proper health care while the birth rates are low due to population policies that have been set up by the government to control population.

Factors that lead to decline in crude birth rates includes the acceptance of birth control measures, enactment of legislations that are aimed at controlling birth rates while those that lead to decrease in crude death rates includes improved health care and awareness of better health development programs. Developed countries that have attained the fourth phase are marked by high living standards with proper food supply and sanitation. Environmental conservation measures are highly enhanced through the promotion of greener sources of energy while in developing countries, there is scarcity of food leading to famine and there is use of non-renewable sources of energy which makes the environment dirty.

The two goals that can be adopted by developing countries in order to reach phase IV of demographic transition is to enact legislations that are aimed at controlling birth rates by limiting the number of children per household and free ante-natal care services to reduce mortality rates (Engelgau,2011).ReferencesEngelgau, M. M., & World Bank. (2011). Capitalizing on the demographic transition: Tackling noncommunicable diseases in South Asia. Washington, D.C: World Bank.