Demographic Transition Model and how it was Developed
Demographic Transition model is a population model that defines a change of a population from that which has the low stability to that which has high stability due to decline in death rate from a level which is high, to be later followed by a decline in birth rate. The period that occurs between the fall in the death rate and birth rate leads to a period when few people will be dying as compared to those being born, and this results in a phase characterized by rapid growth in population (Cervellati & Sunde, 2011). It describes changes in the patterns of fertility, mortality, and rates of growth as the societies develop from one demographic system to another. Frank W. Noted, a demographer, came up with this term in the mid-twentieth century based on observations made on similar patterns of population growth in countries while their economies expanded.
The Four Phases of Demographic Transition Model
The Demographic Transition model was initially composed of four phases. However, by the end of the 20th century, a fifth stage was included. The first phase is the pre-transition phase characterized by a stable population having high crude birth rate and high crude death rate. There is no population growth although the death rate or birth rate may have slight variation. The second phase is the early transition phase where there is an increase in human population. There is notable fall in the crude death rate and increase in the crude birth rate (Cervellati & Sunde, 2011). Improvements in the economy, as well as the social conditions, cause the decline in the death rate.
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Consequently, there is increased food production and improved medical conditions. Phase three, known as the early transition phase is characterized by an increase in population. However, the crude birth rate is declining, and the crude death rate remains low and stable. There is a fall in the crude birth rate because there is the more widespread use of contraceptives. The desire of the people to have large families is reduced because of a combination of reduced infant mortality and social or economic gains. Stage four is called the post-transition phase. In this phase, both the crude birth rate and crude death rate are low, and the total population growth is stabilized. Strong economies, well-developed education, and healthcare systems are characteristics of countries that have attained phase four of demographic transition. The employment opportunities are also expanded to accommodate women.
Three Living Conditions that have reached Phase Four
Developed countries that are in phase four have many features that distinguish them from those that remain in the earlier stages. For instance, in developed countries there are many advances regarding the provision of medical and healthcare as compared to developing countries that have not attained this phase (Engelgau, 2011). The developed countries have more doctors who are well educated, and more people know about various diseases. Housing and Sanitation systems are well-developed in countries in phase four of population transitions in contrast to developing countries which may experience water shortages as well as inadequate housing facilities, and this can negatively affect the quality of life. The developing countries have an unstable government in contrast to developed countries, which have political stability. The instability results in slow economic growth due to reduced investments and people in such countries may be unwilling to support innovation.
Developing countries that have not attained phase four of the transition model can improve their health care system by promoting essential or primary health care (Engelgau, 2011). The promotion can be done by the governments of these countries providing health packages that are cost-effective to its citizens, for example, by focusing on attaining a universal coverage concerning vaccines and creating improved sanitation practices.
Program that helps Developing Countries reach Food Security Goals
Achievement of food security goals in developing countries can involve many strategies including creating a balance between nutritional as well as food security, for instance, development or research of staple food such as maize and wheat should balance that of horticultural crops including legumes and fruits. The countries should make use of advanced technologies to improve knowledge transfer in the field of agriculture, for example, use of mobile phones (Chen et al., 2011). The governments of developing countries should create careers for women or young people in the area of agriculture so that they can become part of sustainable food production.
References
Cervellati, M., & Sunde, U. (2011). Life expectancy and economic growth: the role of the demographic transition . Journal of economic growth, 16(2), 99-133.
Chen, X. P., Cui, Z. L., Vitousek, P. M., Cassman, K. G., Matson, P. A., Bai, J. S., ... & Zhang, F. S. (2011). Integrated soil-crop system management for food security. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , 108(16), 6399-6404.
Engelgau, M. M. (2011 ). Capitalizing on the demographic transition: tackling noncommunicable diseases in South Asia. Washington, DC: World Bank Publications.
