Below new survey released Monday to The Associated Press (printed and attached) is courtesy of my good friend, who wrote "None of Egypt's numerous problems can possibly be tackled, let alone solved, if this dramatic situation is not immediately addressed and concrete steps taken to reduce this suicidal population explosion. And yet no political leaders or strategists have even mentioned this crucial issue in their speeches or in their party programmes. How can any of the county's economic, social, and educational ills begin to be redressed if all material progress is instantaneously eaten-up and negated by an annual increase of nearly 3 million new mouths to feed, to educate, to house and eventually to create employment for??"
I unhesitatingly concur, and other than the obvious reasons...poverty, education, religious entanglements, depressed status of women, absent consciousness and courageous leadership, etc., etc. I say this, is it not unfair of nature to permit this harmful and mindless capability to humans, any two of us irregardless of reason, logic and common sense can make as many babies as our bodies allow, unchecked and unaccountable!!! We need licenses to practice medicine, law, accounting, to drive a car, etc., we need education, information, certificates, skills and experience to hold down any job and make a living, but we can make babies at will with a simple act that practically require nothing of us, including brains....I would say that this is cruel of nature to saddle us humans with such an infliction
Hussein
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Egypt s birth rate dramatically rises
Sudden birthrate increase in Egypt after a 34-year drop unusual, experts say
AP , Monday 27 Oct 2014
Egypt's fertility rate, which has been falling since at least 1980, has risen dramatically in the last six years, according to the results of a new survey released Monday to The Associated Press.
Sudden birthrate increase in Egypt after a 34-year drop unusual, experts say
AP , Monday 27 Oct 2014
Egypt's fertility rate, which has been falling since at least 1980, has risen dramatically in the last six years, according to the results of a new survey released Monday to The Associated Press.
The news raises serious economic concerns for the Arab world's most populous country, whose economy has been staggering since its 2011 revolt. The survey, conducted jointly with Egypt's Ministry of Health and Population and a U.S. Agency for International Development-funded organization, said the number of births per woman has increased from 3 to 3.5 since 2008. Egypt's fertility rate had been steadily decreasing since at least 1980, when the survey began.
"It's a stunning result," said John Casterline, a professor at the Ohio State University who focuses on fertility rates. Casterline said it is extremely unusual for a country's fertility rate to suddenly increase after decreasing for years.
Researchers say the reasons behind the striking uptick are largely unclear.
"It's probably related to female education and labor participation," said Samer Atallah, an economics professor at the American University in Cairo. He said that there has not been a substantial increase in female labor participation during this past period.
The survey also showed a small, 2 percent decrease in the use of contraceptives, including both modern and traditional methods. The survey said 3 percent fewer women obtain contraceptives from public health facilities compared to 2008.
The primary effect, Casterline said, is that "this keeps the Egyptian population young." The challenge will be putting young people through school and eventually creating jobs in an already-stretched labor market with high unemployment, he said. "The births today, they have consequences for decades," he added.
Atallah agreed. "Given that we do not invest substantially in education, given that we do not invest substantially in health care systems or facilities, it's going to be a very difficult task to turn this fertility rate around to something positive," Atallah said.
"It's a stunning result," said John Casterline, a professor at the Ohio State University who focuses on fertility rates. Casterline said it is extremely unusual for a country's fertility rate to suddenly increase after decreasing for years.
Researchers say the reasons behind the striking uptick are largely unclear.
"It's probably related to female education and labor participation," said Samer Atallah, an economics professor at the American University in Cairo. He said that there has not been a substantial increase in female labor participation during this past period.
The survey also showed a small, 2 percent decrease in the use of contraceptives, including both modern and traditional methods. The survey said 3 percent fewer women obtain contraceptives from public health facilities compared to 2008.
The primary effect, Casterline said, is that "this keeps the Egyptian population young." The challenge will be putting young people through school and eventually creating jobs in an already-stretched labor market with high unemployment, he said. "The births today, they have consequences for decades," he added.
Atallah agreed. "Given that we do not invest substantially in education, given that we do not invest substantially in health care systems or facilities, it's going to be a very difficult task to turn this fertility rate around to something positive," Atallah said.
