Demographic change and response: social context and the practice of birth control in six countries
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Fall 9-2006
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Population Research
Abstract
This paper expands on Kingsley Davis’s demographic thesis of change and re- sponse. Specifically, we consider the social context that accounts for the primacy of particular birth control methods that bring about fertility change during specific time periods. We examine the relevance of state policy (including national family planning programs), the international population establishment, the medical profession, organized religion, and women’s groups using case studies from Japan, Russia, Puerto Rico, China, India, and Cameroon. Some of these countries are undergoing the second demographic transition, others the first. Despite variations in context, heavy reliance on sterilization and/or abortion as a means of birth control is a major response in most of these countries. The key roles of the medical profession and state policy are discussed, along with the general lack of influence of religion and of women’s groups in these countries.
DOI
10.1007/BF03031813
MSU Digital Commons Citation
Presser, Harriet B.; Klein Hattori, Megan L.; Parashar, Sangeeta; Raley, Sara; and Sa, Zhihong, "Demographic change and response: social context and the practice of birth control in six countries" (2006). Department of Sociology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 4.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/sociology-facpubs/4
Published Citation
Presser, H. B., Hattori, M. L. K., Parashar, S., Raley, S., & Sa, Z. (2006). Demographic change and response: social context and the practice of birth control in six countries. Journal of population Research, 23(2), 135-163.