Natalist Policy & Governmental Involvement:
With Solomon Islands being one of the poorest countries in the Pacific region making it an LDC, high birth rates and death rates are to be expected in this stage 1. This country has been undergoing constant tension within the government due to corruption and violence, which then transfers into tension between the people. Sanitation and health care is also greatly lacking and so this leads to many deaths. Infrastructures, such as roads, are also absent which is a hindrance because people are unable to make it to hospitals in case of emergencies and children are unable to attend school lowering the literacy rate. The fact that their economy is not doing well either is a dangerous sign. Because of these problems, there is a fertility rate of 3.51 children per woman. The woman must remain with having a higher birth rate to compensate for the lost children that they have. Solomon Islands ultimately, as you can see from the above information, lacks government involvement. They do not have a natalist policy implemented as of now and should not until they fix things such as infrastructure. This will allow for the people to get medical attention at hospitals and reach schools for education, which in turn, will increase the standard of living and lower the death rates. The government should then begin educating the women. This will decrease the illiteracy rate and make more women employed which will reduce the fertility rates. Further education and encouragement of the people on the use and power of contraceptives and family planning then can be instilled. Once these problems are fixed by the government and the country moves into a higher stage in the demographic transition model as a more stable country, then the government can implement a natalist policy to reduce the high birth rates. Families will then be able to have less children as they will have a more likely chance to survive with better health care, education, and food. Furthermore, with a better education, then the future of the Solomon Islands may begin to look up.
Population Momentum:
Population momentum is the tendency for a population to continue growing even after the time that a replacement level of fertility has been achieved.
The Population Momentum Factor (PMF) is calculated by multiplying the crude birth rate (CBR) with the average life expectancy at birth (LEB). PMF = CBR x LEB PMF = .024 x 74.42 PMF = 1.78608 PMF > 1 so positive momentum in population. Migration Factors: |
A large portion of the population, 38% to be exact, is between 0 and 14 years of age, which means their childbearing years lie just ahead. Solomon Island’s has a high birth rate of 27.46 births as compared to 3.91 deaths per 1,000 population. With only 4% of population 65 years and older, there is a low number of individuals dying as compared to the high birth rate. The total fertility rate is 3.51 children born per woman, which is above the replacement level of 2.1. These factors prove why there is a growth rate of 2.17% and why the PMF is above 1, which causes a positive momentum in the population. |
PUSH1) Government tensions:
a. The Solomon Islands suffered a breakdown of law and order between 1999-2003 as a result of government and anti-government tensions. The physical impact of the tensions were concentrated in Guadalcanal and Malaita Provinces, and included the destruction of property, homes, school and clinics, and government supplies and services, as well as a decline in family livelihood, health and well-being. 2) Disease and lack of knowledge regarding nutrition: a. The major causes of ill health and death in the Solomon Islands are infectious, communicable diseases such as Malaria, pneumonia, HIV/AIDS, and STIs. b. Maternal Child Health is another health issue in the Solomon Islands. The general lack of knowledge regarding nutrition, birth spacing and inaccessibility to health centers to receive medical support are major problems. 3) Low literacy levels & infrastructure: a. The literacy rate in Solomon Islands is the worst in the Pacific (an estimated 64.9 percent). Most people in rural areas have limited access to education facilities and have to travel a long distance to attend school. The 1999 census reported that 50.1 percent of children between 5-9 years old do not attend school. This factor, coupled with the very high population growth rate, creates a steadily increasing need for basic education services. |
PULL1) Church missions:
a. High level of tolerance and comity developed between different churches in the last century. Unlike the government, church missions have done a lot for the people. They have provided schools, clinics, church buildings, and overall good will. The churches have enabled different cultures to assimilate such teachings as the social gospel of sharing and caring. 2) Scenery: a. The tourism industry has only been recently encouraged. The Solomon Islands has stellar scenery, including lagoons, lakes, fauna and flora. The government has encouraged controlled tourism to attract Australians, Japanese, Americans, and scuba divers. Net Migration*Net Migration Rate: 1.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
Forced migration already occurs on the smaller islands due to the inability of the land to sustain the rising population. Since the soil yields only to subsistence levels of the current population, many families need to move into less impacted areas. Another limiting factor involves the shortage of freshwater on the coral atolls. Mosquitoes are the number one carriers of disease, so the members of the village cannot prevent contamination by avoiding their fellow villagers. |
Works Cited:
http://www.gdrc.org/oceans/csevilla.html
http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Solomon-Islands.html#b
http://www.wpro.who.int/health_services/solomon_islands_nationalhealthplan.pdf
http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/gifford-lands-solomon-islands-role
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/countries/pacific/solomon-islands/Pages/default.aspx
http://www2.adb.org/documents/photos/sol/pcerp/story01-12.asp
http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Solomon-Islands.html#b
http://www.wpro.who.int/health_services/solomon_islands_nationalhealthplan.pdf
http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/gifford-lands-solomon-islands-role
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/countries/pacific/solomon-islands/Pages/default.aspx
http://www2.adb.org/documents/photos/sol/pcerp/story01-12.asp