Politics, Policies, and Population – Flashcards

B. Africa

A. high-income countries

A. It would necessitate new schools, classrooms, and resources for children.

Sweden and China have pursued opposing population policies. Sweden's policies attempt to encourage population growth by offering many incentives to families with children. Sweden has pursued these growth policies in response to the social challenge of an aging population that requires a younger population to support their economic needs, such as pensions, retirement, and healthcare. In contrast, China's policies discourage population growth because the country faces the environmental challenge of too few natural resources to support their large population. A large population often creates social unrest and a lower standard of living. China has discouraged growth by offering financial rewards to families that limit themselves to one child.

Botswana's treatment goal was to provide universal access to antiretroviral drugs. This was made possible by government and international funding. The prevention goals were to provide education through television, school, and community discussions as well as safety through distributing condoms, screening blood donations, and preventing mother-to-child transmission. The testing goals were to provide access to voluntary testing centers and testing as part of routine health check-ups.

Many endemic diseases in the developing world are waterborne. These diseases are spread by a lack of access to clean, safe drinking water and sanitation services. Many governments of developing nations are unable to provide these services. Some nations in the developing world also face the obstacle of low levels of literacy. Low levels of literacy produce fewer trained healthcare workers and fewer economic resources to attract healthcare providers. Finally, many people living in developing nations lack the economic resources to pay for basic healthcare services.

C. more severe than the AIDS/HIV crisis in Belgium

B. increasing treatment, prevention, and testing

The Chinese government has been extremely successful in limiting population growth over the past 30 years. The policies that the government has pursued to accomplish this goal have been controversial because of their potential violation of human rights. China's one-child policy has been the most successful policy for controlling growth. The government also has encouraged young people to wait to have children to decrease their likely family size and encouraged couples to abort unauthorized pregnancies. Finally, in the early years of the one-child policy, couples with more than one child were often forced to pay the government fines, and some were sterilized at the insistence of the government.

Sweden has enacted population growth policies that encourage growth while respecting citizens' rights. Sweden has attempted to decrease and eliminate violence against women. The government also has maintained a policy of offering pregnant women access to safe birth deliveries. Sweden encourages women with families to remain in the workforce by providing flexible family planning options and daycare. This policy ensures that women are not forced to choose between a career and a family. Finally, Sweden emphasizes a strong health and sexual education program to encourage the population to understand their reproductive rights and the protections and benefits offered to families.

China and India both pursue policies to discourage population growth, driven by a similar need to curb the strain that their large populations have placed on the available land, food, and water. China, with the world's largest population, controversially limits its population with a one-child policy. In contrast, India pursues less restrictive policies aimed at raising the economic and social status of women through education and increased access to health care facilities, contraception, and women's clubs. Both China and India have been criticized for violating human rights because their cultures both place greater value on male children. This value has created a greater demographic ratio of males to females because females face higher instances of abortion, infanticide, and neglect.

C. Daughters are more economically valuable to a family than sons.

Nations with high income levels are most often developed or industrialized. Because these nations have wealthier economies, more citizens can afford access to healthcare. Nations with high income levels also enjoy high literacy rates, and therefore their population has more education to take preventative healthcare measures. High literacy rates also provide more qualified healthcare workers for the country. Nations with high income levels usually have stable governments with the resources to provide basic healthcare infrastructure, such as sanitation services and access to clean water. Finally, nations with high income levels typically also have lower birth rates. Therefore, they experience less population pressure on the existing infrastructure and healthcare system.