Epidemiological transition is "In human populations, the pattern of change in morality from high death rates to low death rates and Fertility transition as the pattern of change in birthrates in a human society from high rates to low”. (Wright, 2005)
Demographic transition can be defined as the change of a population from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates. The demographic transition generally occurs in four stages. In the initial stage, both birth and death rates are high, causing only slow and steady population growth. In the next stage, death rates begin to decline and birth rates remain high, resulting in faster population growth. In stage three, the birth rate begins to decline, and in the final stage, birth rates balance death rates. Population growth stabilizes in the final stage.
Epidemiological transition relates Demographic transition. There is a continuation of slow and often fluctuating mortality declines which are increasingly concentrated at the later stages of life; Stability and even some signs of some reversal in mortality differential between men and
The Human Population
women; Variable patterns of change of underlying causes of death including the major chronic diseases; Emergence of certain communicable diseases as important causes of death as well as variation in external causes of death.
Fertility transition relates Demographic transition. Most countries in the world will experience a substantial ageing of their populations. This population ageing is due to a general decline in birth rates both in the developed world, from moderate to low levels of fertility, and in developing countries, from high to moderate levels.
Different regions of the world are in different phases of the demographic transition. What are the consequences of remaining at earlier transition phases?
The consequences of remaining at earlier stages of transitions is that the cycle of poverty, high fertility, and environmental degradation will continue over much of the globe despite past efforts at development. In fact, many regions of the developing world are stuck in the middle of the demographic transition. However, the shift from high to low fertility in developing countries is being somewhat accomplished by social modernization. The factors that influence fertility rates are more specific than development in general. Different regions of the world are in different phases of demographic transition. The most rapid population growth is occurring in developing countries, thus having social and environmental consequences. Populations in the developed countries have experienced great reductions in birth and death rates over time. In other words, these consequences vary across developing and developed countries.
List four natural resources that are needed for survival. Next, list five things that might happen if the number of people in a family, village, country is increased but the quantity of resources remains constant.
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Air, water, soil, and energy, are natural resources that are needed for survival. If the number of people in a family, village, country is increased but the quantity of resources remains constant, the country becomes too populated and it would put a big strain on the natural resources. The increase in population means that more forest and rain forest will be destroyed to make more room for the people to live. Destroying rain forests are bad because for example, the Amazon rain forest alone produces 40% of the world’s oxygen. People would develop poor health and increased disease. It would also increase the death rate. The economy would decline because the demand of jobs would exceed the number of jobs available.
The Human Population
Reference
Demographic transition Retrieved April 1, 2006 from
Epidemiologic transition Retrieved April 1, 2006 from www.milbank.org/quarterly/830418omran.pdf
Fertility rate Retrieved April 1, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility_rate
Wright, Richard. (2005). Environmental Science. Ninth Edition. Pearson Education, Inc. Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ. 07452
