In Stage 1 of the demographic transition model, known as the High Stationary stage, both birth rates and death rates are high, resulting in a relatively stable population size.
Get the full solved assignment PDF of MME-104/As-1 of 2024 session now.
Several factors contribute to this phenomenon:
1. **High Birth Rates**:
– Lack of Family Planning: In Stage 1, there’s often limited access to contraceptives and family planning education, leading to larger family sizes.
– Agricultural Economy: Societies in Stage 1 typically rely on agriculture as the primary economic activity. High birth rates are advantageous for agricultural societies as they provide additional labor for farming.
– High Infant Mortality: Families tend to have more children to compensate for the high likelihood of infant mortality. Children are seen as a form of social security, especially in societies where healthcare is limited.
2. **High Death Rates**:
– Limited Healthcare: Access to healthcare is often minimal or nonexistent in Stage 1 societies, leading to high mortality rates from preventable diseases and childbirth complications.
– Poor Sanitation: Lack of clean water sources and proper sanitation infrastructure contribute to the spread of diseases, further increasing mortality rates.
– Famine and Malnutrition: Agricultural societies may experience periodic famines due to crop failures or natural disasters, resulting in high death rates from starvation and malnutrition.
– Infectious Diseases: Communicable diseases such as cholera, tuberculosis, and influenza can spread rapidly in densely populated areas with poor hygiene practices, exacerbating mortality rates.
Overall, in Stage 1, high birth rates are driven by economic and social factors, while high death rates are primarily influenced by inadequate healthcare, sanitation, and nutrition. This combination leads to a population with minimal growth but relatively stable numbers.