William Peterson in an analysis of demographic aspects found that the population of the world has passed through three stages.
(a) Pre-Industrial Phase: In this stage the birth rate (natality rate) was high, death rate (mortality rate) and infant mortality rate were also high leading to a slow multiplication of population. Societies were economically backward with agriculture being the main occupation. Development in medicine was very slow and high death rate could not be checked.
(b) Early Phases of Industrialization: With the improvement in drinking water facilities, improved sanitation and knowledge of hygiene, development of medical science and also better transport, the death rate declined but the birth rate stayed high. As a result of high birth rate and low mortality rate, population began to grow faster. In Europe, this period of rapid population explosion is called the "transition phase". It lasted for three centuries and brought about a seven-fold increase in population.
(c) Population Dynamics in Industrial Society: Here death rate is checked because of improved medicine and other aspects of social and natural environment. It is also realized that since resources are limited, a proper upbringing of children is possible if family size is limited. Along with a chance in value structure, the innovation of birth control technology paves the way for family planning. Birth rate is also reduced. With reduction in both birth and death rates, a stable population could be achieved.
This analysis in terms of three phases is referred to as the "demographic-transition" theory. Most countries of developing world have been caught on the second stage. Death rate has, of course, been checked, but a high birth rate is gradually leading to a rapid increasing multitude, or what is often called the "population explosion". Though birth control methods exist, they are not popularly used by rural people because of a large number of traditional factors. The problem in family planning is to check fertility. Since women have a great fertility, the number of live births should be reduced. This would not only provide an opportunity to couples to give the best to their children, but also free women from constant duties of bearing and rearing. Thus, women would be able to contribute to productive process and nation-building. Fertility depends on the age at which women marry; the period when they remain in fertility union and the rapidity with which they build their families. A study reports that age of marriage in the case of women has increased from 12.6 in the 1921-31 decade to 19.9 in the 1951-61 decade. In the case of men, it has remained constant at 20. An increase of roughly three years in the age of women at marriage within a span of twenty years has contributed to a three per cent decline in birth rate. The mass adoption of family planning practices also requires a change in the value-structure. Indian experience shows that coercive methods of family planning have usually failed.
A decline in the birth rate can be brought about, along with an increase in the age at marriage, through the use of contraceptives by people. Family planning movement in India is not yet very powerful. It was estimated that about 15 million people constantly used the methods of family planning. A sizeable number comes from urban areas. In rural areas, the use of family planning methods is not pronounced. Thus, India has registered only a minor decline in birth rate. The Government of India since independence has been earnestly and vigorously supporting the movement. S.N. Agarwal writes that in the First Five Year Plan, a provision of 65 lakhs rupees was made for a family planning programme which increased in the Fifth and Sixth Plans. Considerable Progress has been made in the opening of family planning clinics both in rural and urban areas. Programme to motivate people to accept birth control measures have also been intensified. Various surveys have been conducted on the family planning practices of both rural and urban dwellers. It has been found that response to it is linked with educational levels of the respective groups. Educated groups accept birth control practices much more easily than illiterate ones. Social environment also inculcates a structure of values conducive to the acceptance of various measures. Upper classes accept and practise these methods most stringently than lower sections. These surveys also show that native tradition should be used for popularizing these methods. In addition to this, native traditional medicines which can control birth rate should also be explored. Studies from tribal societies show that headmen usually have the knowledge of the existence of certain herbs which could check birth rate. Above all, people should be motivated to go in for such practices.
