Population, Health & Migration

demography

the study of human populations

population & health geography

the study of the spatial dimensions of population and health

megacity

city’s population > 10 Million

distribution

the spatial arrangement of geographic phenomena (people) within an area - including density, concentration, and pattern

population/physiological density

a measure of the relationship between the number of people and a unit of area, in a ratio

arithmetic (crude) density

the total number of people per unit of area

physiological density

population per unit of cultivable (arable) land

doubling time

number of years required for the population of an area to double its present size given the current rates of population growth

overpopulation

a belief that an area’s population exceeds the capacity of the environment to support life at a decent standard of living

carrying capacity

the maximum population that can be supported by a given set of resources and a given level of technology

catastrophists

population increases and continuing environmental deterioration are leading to a nightmarish future of environmental catastrophe

cornucopians

advances in science and technology along with cultural adaptation will continue to create resources sufficient to support the growing world population and mitigate environmental change

the population of any place at any time

P1=P0+(B-D)+(I-E)

fertility

a population’s natural capability of having children; the number of live births produced by a woman

mortality

deaths as a component of population change

crude birth rate (CBR)

CBR=(B/P) x 1000, number of births per 1000 people in an area (in a certain time)

true fertility

the number of children being born relative to the number of women in the population that are at child bearing age (15-49)

General fertility rate (GFR)

GFR=B/P(F 15-49) x 1000, the number of births per 1000 women of child bearing age in a country

Total fertility rate (TFR)

the average number of children a woman will have in her fecund years

fecundity

the ability of a woman to conceive children during her reproductive years (15-49)

replacement-level fertility/replacement rate

the level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next

crude death rate (CDR)

CDR=(D/P) x 1000, total number of deaths for every 1000 people in a certain time

infant mortality rate (IMR)

IMR=D(0-1)/B x 1000, an age adjusted mortality rate that looks at the number of deaths of people aged 0-1 in a certain time per 1000 infants

* B is number of babies born in that time

age-adjusted rate

accounts for age of population examined

life expectancy

average number of years of life an individual can expect to live (assuming current mortality rates)

rate of natural growth

fertility rate (CBR) - mortality rate (CDR), can be +/-

population momentum

countries with large populations of young people, even with declining fertility rates, have significant momentum and will continue to see growth for several generations

arithmetic

changing in a linear method

exponential

changing in a geometric method

preventative checks on population

natural/controlled population checks

positive checks on population

uncontrolled checks on population, has a dramatic effect

neo-malthusian ideas

inspired by malthusian theory, inspired other catastrophists

Paul Ehrlich

predicted a population bomb in the 1960s-70s

demographic transition theory

demographic changes are associated stages of economic development

stage 1 of economic development - pre-modern

* high birth rate, high death rate
* equilibrium (population doesn’t change)

stage 2 of economic development - urbanizing and industrializing

* high birth rate, declining death rate


* population explodes

stage 3 of economic development - mature industrial

* declining birth rate, low death rate
* population continues to growth at a decreasing rate

stage 4 of economic development - post-industrial

* low birth rate, low death rate
* equilibrium

population pyramid

a diagrammatic representation of the age and sec composition of a population

age structure

determined by the relative birth & death rates of a population

expanding populations

* fertility rates are high, each gen is larger than the previous
* pyramidal shape of population pyramid

diminishing populations

* fertility rates are low
* each gen is smaller than the previous

stable populations

* show a somewhat equal proportion of the population in each age group


* neither increase nor decrease in population

less developed world

* A large group of countries (effectively the whole world excluding those that are more developed) characterized by low standards of living and social well-being


* the developing world
* the Third World

more developed world

* A group of countries, including Canada, the United States, most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, that are characterized by a high standard of living and social well-being
* the developed world
* the First World

census

The periodic enumeration of all individuals and collection of demographic and other data in a given country at a particular point in time

sex ratio

the number of males per 100 females in a population

population aging

A process in which the proportion of elderly people in a population increases and the proportion of younger people decreases, resulting in increased median age of the population

limits to growth

a view that argues that both the world population and the world economy will collapse because of insufficient available natural resources

theory

a set of interconnected statements/a system of ideas that is intended to explain something

demographic transition

The historical shift of birth and death rates from high to low levels in a population (mortality declines before fertility, resulting in substantial population increase during the transition phase)

migration

the long term/permanent relocation of an individual/group of people from one area to another (incl. immigration & emigration)

immigration

movement into a country/region

emigration

movement out of a country/region

spatial contexts of migration

international, inter-regional, inter-urban, intra-urban

residential mobility

connected to intra-urban migration, migration within the same city

flow of migrants

number of migrants

net migration

immigration - emigration (I-E)

destination countries

low natural population growth, high economic & social development, where most immigrants are going to → net positive migration

source countries

high natural population growth, low economic & social development, where most immigrants come from → net negative migration

push-pull logic

(migration theory) where there are 2 major forces that are driving why people migrate (push & pull) - the key is that the new location is better than the previous one

push factors

being in an undesirable place

pull factors

being aware of a more desirable place

family reunification

have a family member living elsewhere and reuniting with them

economic push-pull

movement that results from a difference in wages, a threat to survival due to inadequate economic system (food, shelter)

political/cultural push-pull

movement that results from threat to survival due to political/religious beliefs, a desire for a different way of life

environmental push-pull

movement that results from differences in local/regional environmental conditions

Ravenstein laws

(migration theory) a series of generalizations drawn from observations of migration behaviours as illustrated in historical data (19th century)

* short distance
* intermediate steps
* men vs. women & families
* rural → urban
* large cities

free/voluntary migration

migration from one country to another with free choice from the migrant

immigration laws

barriers to migration consisting of limits - the number of migrants accepted and criteria - who is allowed in

restrictive countries

a country that does not accept many immigrants because of policy/law and a negative public opinion towards immigrants exist

forced migration

people are forcibly moved, against their will to another location (ex. slavery)

slavery

* people rounded up in 1 part of the world, moved, and forced to do work in another part of the world perpetrated by the Greeks, Romans, and Colonial European powers


* form of labour that is controlled through compulsion and is not remunerated (paid)

impelled migration

migration where choice is limited (no one is forcing migrants to move, however if they stay, they might face horrible conditions in their home country)

US-Mexico border wall

wall meant to secure border between US and Mexico, reducing number of illegal immigrants coming to US

refugee

form of impelled migrant - an individual forced to flee their home country in the face of persecution or other threats to safety such as war, natural disaster, or political instability

UNHCR definition of refugee

defined at the International Refugee Convention (1951); someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted

Internally Displaced Person (IDP)

an individual forced to flee their home in the face of persecution or other threats to safety BUT they do leave their home country

local refugee

refugees that take a short-term & local move until domestic circumstances change

long-distance refugee

refugees that make a permanent & long-distance move for a ‘better life’

hyperinflation

rapid, excessive, and out-of-control general price increases in an economy

Rohingya

a Muslim religious minority in Myanmar

Rakhine State Conflict

military destruction of Rohingya villages in Rahkine state

Arab Spring (2010-2011)

a series of uprisings against oppressive governments across the Arab world seeking social and political reform (springing towards democracy)

Arab World

North Africa, Middle East, Southwest Asia

voluntary repatriation

(solution to refugee crisis) where refugees voluntarily return home once circumstances improve

local settlement/integration

(solution to refugee crisis) integration out of a neighbouring country’s refugee camp to start a life there

resettlement

(solution to refugee crisis) the acceptance by more distant countries of refugees

life cycle

The process of change experienced by individuals over their lifespans; often divided into stages (such as childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age), each of which is associated with particular forms of behaviour

non-governmental organization (NGO)

A non-profit enterprise that works alongside government and international organizations to achieve development, humanitarian, and environmental goals; ex. Médecins Sans Frontières

health status

various states of wellness (physical, mental, emotional)

medical geography

the study of spatial context (processes and patterns) of disease

health geography

the study of spatial context of health & well-being

health (old definition)

the absence of disease

health (modern definition)

a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing

Four Ds of Health Geography

distribution, diffusion, determinants, and delivery of health care

distribution

the spatial arrangement of health & disease within an area, the birth of medical geography and epidemiology

diffusion

the spread of health & disease over space and through time

determinants

the factors affecting one’s health status

social capital

a network of people who can aid us in times of need (friends, coworkers, family)