Prevalence and determinants of childlessness in Russia and Moscow

Abstract

Dramatic decreases in the birth rate between 1947 and 1955 in Japan is due to legalized abortion and wide-spread practice of contraception but is also to some socio-economic changes. In 1947 the birth rate in Japan reached its highest 34.3/1000 but dramatically decreased by 50% over the next 8 years. The birth rate which went down to 17.2/1000 in 1955 increased again gradually till 1974 but has been decreasing. Total fertility rate is 1.8 as of now. Eugenic Law was passed in 1948 in Japan. 30% had the experience of contraception in 1950; 52% in 1955; 63% in 1959; 72% in 1965. 15% experienced abortion in 1952; 27% in 1955; 41% in 1961. A post war baby boom occurred amid shortage of food shelter and employment and the experience of poverty prompted people to limit the size of family. Post-war Japan no longer was obsessed with producing an heir. Neither was there a need to produce many children because of improved infant mortality rates. Due to the fast paced industrialization of Japan between 1950 and 1960 a potentially high fertility population migrated from rural to urban areas where big families were not advantageous. Although the socio economic life of Japanese people greatly improved after 1960 the birth rate has not increased very much. Money is now used more for material comforts in daily life leisure and education of small number of children. There is also a trend among some part of population not to have children because of environmental deterioration.