Question

Which of the following makes it difficult to reduce population growth?

A. High literacy rates result in women wanting to have more children.
B. Many people have low literacy and limited access to healthcare.
C. Many people live in cities, where large families are an advantage
D. Population sizes will not decline until some people start having to do without food and other necessities of life

Answer 1

Low literacy rates and limited access to healthcare, along with economic incentives for larger families, make it difficult to reduce population growth. Improving education and healthcare can lead to lower birth rates as part of a demographic transition.

Step-by-step explanation:

The factors that make it difficult to reduce population growth include low literacy rates and limited access to healthcare. These present challenges in family planning education and access to contraception. Additionally, economic and social incentives for larger families in areas with high unemployment and demand for labor contribute to higher birth rates. However, trends indicate that when women's educational and economic opportunities improve, birth rates decline. This shift is part of a broader demographic transition that has already occurred in developed countries, where birth rates have fallen significantly. Public health improvements that reduce infant mortality also lead parents to have fewer children, anticipating that more will survive to adulthood. Therefore, providing education and improving health care are crucial steps toward stabilizing and potentially reducing population growth.