[Population dynamics and development in the Caribbean]. / Dinamica de la poblacion y desarrollo en el Caribe.

PIP: The impact is examined of socioeconomic factors on Caribbean population dynamics. This work begins by describing the socioeconomic context of the late 1980s and early 1990s, under the influence of the economic changes and crises of the 1980s. The small size, openness, dependency, and lack of diversification of the Caribbean economies have made them vulnerable to external pressures. The Bahamas and Belize had economic growth rates exceeding 5% annually during 1981-90, but most of the countries had low or negative growth. Unemployment, poverty, the structural adjustment measures adopted in the mid-1980s, and declines in social spending exacerbated general economic conditions. In broad terms, the population situation of the Caribbean is marked by diversity of sizes and growth rates. A few countries oriented toward services and tourism had demographic growth rates exceeding 3%, while at least 7 had almost no growth or negative growth. Population growth rates reflected different combinations of natural increase and migration. Crude death rates ranged from around 5/1000 to 11/1000, except in Haiti, and all countries of the region except Haiti had life expectancies of 70 years or higher. Despite fertility decline, the average crude birth rate was still relatively high at 26/1000, and the rate of natural increase was 1.8% annually for the region. Nearly half of the regional population was under 15 or over 65 years old. The body of this work provides greater detail on mortality patterns, variations by sex, infant mortality, causes of death, and implications for policy. The discussion of fertility includes general patterns and trends, age specific fertility rates, contraceptive prevalence, levels of adolescent fertility and age factors in adolescent sexual behavior, characteristics of adolescent unions, contraceptive usage, health and social consequences of adolescent childbearing, and the search for solutions. The final section describes the magnitude and causes of emigration from the Caribbean and the impact of emigration on population composition, with attention to intraregional and return migration.^ieng

[Population policies: complex responsibilities]. / Politicas de populacao: responsabilidades complexas.

PIP: The formulation and application of population policies complex interdisciplinary and multi-institutional tasks relegated under the auspices of the Health and Education Ministry. Diverse real-life problems require a unique model of organization because of great social, economic, political, and demographic differences. This structure should include a population unit, an information/education/communication unit, a population council, and research and data processing centers, as recommended by the World Population Action Plan. The limitation of the authority, and the financial and administrative inadequacies of the population units often pose difficulties. Data collection and analysis as well as central statistical registry functions are also often allocated to these units. The Population Council is charged with motivating the state for solving demographic problems and drawing attention to impact of population on development. Demographic research is an integral part of this effort carried out by population units. In India population units also help in the application of population policies. Other functions of population units are: dissemination of information on population planning and development, or on fertility programs whose aim is to reduce the growth of population, or on community development projects. The latter include health services, improvement of irrigation and roads, and social programs for the betterment of health, education, and the employment of women. A central information bank is indispensable containing information of the population programs of the country. Institutional organs could formulate their population action plan and implement it by appropriate technical assistance and methods using such a depository of information.^ieng