Page 213 - Social Studies 7

even believe that use of family planning devices are not good as they think it is
against their religion.
Thus, all these factors affect population growth. Some other factors are high birth
rate, polygamy, migration, etc.

Causes of Population Decline

Population decline refers to the decline in number of humans in a particular place.
It's sometimes known as depopulation. The reduction over a time in particular
region's population is population decline. The areas with the highest rate of
population decline are New Zealand, Flanders, Southern Limburg and northern
and eastern Groningen, some of the reasons for population decline or decrease in
population are given below:

1. High Infant Mortality Rate
The death of children below one year is known as infant mortality. Infants
die because of the reasons like lack of proper care, health service and nutrition,
poverty, early marriage, superstition, etc. According to the census of BS 2068 the
infant mortality rate in Nepal is 46 per thousand live births.

2. Illiteracy

Lack of awareness education or being illiterate can affect the life of a person.
As people can die of the diseases which could be cured at home. Illiterate people
are not aware of cleanliness exercise, hygiene, notorious, food, etc. Untimely
deaths can be prevented if a person is aware of health knowledge.

3. Natural Calamities

Natural calamities like earthquake, flood, landslide, hurricanes, etc. can be
great reasons of death of people. Nearly 10,000 people died in massive earthquake
that happened in Baisakh BS 2072 and hundreds of people lost their lives during
the floods in BS 2050.

4. Economic Condition
Because of poor economic condition it is difficult to manage nutritious food,
proper clothing, good health care and services, etc. for the family members which
lead to death of people in a family. People cannot afford even medicines for their
sickness due to poverty.

5. Lack of Health Services and Facilities

Proper health care is necessary to have healthy life. For this facility of good
health services and facilities are required. People suffer from various infectious

213 Dynamic Social Studies and Population Education - Book VII