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  • Title: A huge and fast growing population.
    Author: Liu Z.
    Journal: Integration; 1992 Mar; (31):32-40. PubMed ID: 12284964.
    Abstract:
    This overview of population growth and family planning (FP) in China features fertility changes in the 1970s and 1980s, specific characteristics of changes in the 1970s, 1980s, declining FP impact, 3 reasons for population pressure, and actions to be taken in the 1990s. Total fertility rates annually from 1970 to 1989 reveal a dramatic consistent decline yearly in the 1970s and small decreases and increases during the 1980s and 2.42. Fertility decline preceded development in the 1980s in the economy and in medicine, sanitation, culture, and education. Presently the socioeconomic and education levels are still low compared with other developing countries. Socioeconomic development is responsible for the fluctuations during the 1980s. Economic reforms in rural areas gave the farm family control over production, which relied heavily on male labor; hence multiple childbearing was much higher than the national level. The psychological impact of changes in government policy, which at the onset of the 1970s set the minimum age at 1st marriage at 23, for women 25 for men, was that the traditional concepts remained. The government response to multiple concerns lowered the age again and FP policy in rural areas was relaxed. The result was early marriage ratios increasing beyond 1970 levels and unchecked growth. Policy in the late 1980s began to bring FP under control again. There was a growing need for consolidation of socioeconomic policies for the development of conditions conducive to FP. Priority was given to maternal and child health, medical services, education, cultural development, sanitation, and old age care. Even though there were FP policy changes in the 1980s the general trend was a decline in fertility. The end of the 1980s showed a lower fertility rate than in the 1970s in rural areas and stabilization of rates in urban areas. During the 1970s, regionally there were areas ranging from very low to very high fertility. During the 1980s the wide differences in the areas became fixed and corresponded to the unequal development of socioeconomic standards in these areas. Details by province are provided. FP programs affected the declines but the impact is diminished as fertility reaches the limit. Population pressure is due to the huge size, the age composition, and high fertility regions comprising 56% of the population. To lower fertility during the 1990s, FP policy should be stabilized and attention paid to factors affecting fertility, socioeconomic policies need to be strengthened in order to stimulate fertility decrease, and private and nongovernmental organization roles need to be developed.
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