Part A
There were years when a booming population became a challenge for the society in general. For instance, it would mean that the population is young and more individuals are dependent on a smaller portion of the population. There was also a challenge in how resources could be managed when the birth rate is off the roof. However, way past that, there has been a significant decrease in the birth rate of many countries, including the United States. This decrease is likewise viewed negatively in the health care perspective. Moreover, as 2002, a study noted that there is a lower birth rate as influenced by many factors (Tough et al.).
The said study in 2002 had determined that the cause of this lower birth rate can be somehow attributed to the delay in the childbearing years of women. According to the study, there are only 8.4 percent of births that come from women who are older than 34 years old in 1990. In 1996, this percentage rose to 12.6 percent. This is a 51.2 percent increase in the number of women who bear children when they are older. Making the gap between generations wider and ageing the population. Furthermore, the study also noted that more than 78 percent of the decrease in the birth rate can be accounted for the delay in childbearing in many women. It is also expected that more women will have delays in childbearing as time passes by (Tough et al.). Though this may sound completely fine terms of population control, the low birth rate poses a challenge for health care resources.
A country with an ageing population or a country with more elders than younger individuals is generally difficult to handle from a health care perspective. This would mean that there are more people in the population that would be in need of medical assistance since they are more prone to health difficulties. The risk of acquiring diseases becomes more significantly higher as one ages, and an ageing population is a sickly one. Furthermore, the care of the elders is also a challenge for many nursing homes. There are many nursing homes that have insufficient resources to keep up with an ageing population. As a result the ageing population in the United States had placed pressure on health care, especially those depend on public funds.
The negative effects that an ageing population has on health care due to lower birth rates are undeniable. This phenomenon is not new and continue to persist around the globe. For instance, other countries like Japan and China, face the same dilemma. Thus, it should be noted that the decline in the birth rates of countries should be addressed so that health care will not be compromised.
Part B
The low birth rate in many countries has become a problem in the health care perspective, more specifically, on a nursing perspective. In 2007, a statistic released in Japan had noted that there are 27 440 000 individuals who are older that 65 years old. This accounts for 22 percent of the population of Japan and this percentage continue to rise. Thus, Japan can already be considered a “super-aged” country. Furthermore, the ageing population of Japan can be attributed to two factors: a low birth rate and a high life expectancy. This means that while there are fewer children that are born, the elders continue to live due to their lifestyle and other factors. This may sound a triumph since it only means that the health of the citizens of Japan is secured, but this pose a problem in social systems. More specifically, the ageing population of Japan has become a problem for public health. There have been an increase in the number of elders who are in need of nursing care. As of 2006, there are more than 4 million Japanese citizens that are in need of nursing care. The demand for nursing care has overwhelmed Japan. The demands continue to rise while their health care system remains to be under a lot of pressure. This not only put a strain on the national funds, but also a strain on the quality of the health care that the government can provide. Furthermore, Japan’s low birth rate had contributed much to this problem should be taken care of (Nakamura, 2008).
The problem with lowered birth rates is not only exclusive to Japan and the United States. There are many other countries, regardless of their economic status, that suffer the same fate or are projected to. This lowered birth rate may be attributed to the delayed childbearing in many countries, but there are also many other factors that are in play. For instance, the mentality that bearing children can be bothersome and hinder the realization of one’s career goals may also be a significant factor. This mentality to bear later in life could also be a negative feedback of populations to the previous boom that posed a challenge to balance out the available resources. Furthermore, the times have changed and it is time to re-evaluate priorities. The health care industry is under a lot of pressure due to the limited resources they have and the increasing demand from the population. Increasing the birth rates through intervention is not the only solution, there should also be appropriate reforms that can adapt to the ever evolving dynamics of the population.
References
Nakamura, K. (2008). A “Super-Aged” Society and the “Locomotive Syndrome”. Journal of Orthopaedic Science, 13 (1).
Tough, S., Newburn-Cook, C., Johnston, D., Svenson, L., Rose, S. & Belik, J. (2002). Delayed Childbearing and its Impact on Population Changes in Lower Birth Weight, Multiple Birth, and Preterm Delivery. American Academy of Pediatrics.
