An objective social reason to reconsider abortions
Del Campo, C.
Canadian Medical Association Journal 129(1): 12
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-4409 PMID: 6861040 Document Number: 217202
In Canada the declining birthrate and the increase in life expectancy is producing a steady change in the distribution of the population. Every country needs a balance between different age groups to maintain an equilibrium between the working and nonworking sectors. When the pyramid is reversed and the older members outnumber the supporting group, the care of the elderly rests primarily with the government. This is Canada's situation. The main factor in the growth of the population has been natural increase (or the excess of births over deaths), but this has declined progressively, from 23/1000 population in 1961 to only 8.3/1000 in 1977. Since the crude death rate has leveled off since 1967, the reason for this decline is the significant reduction in the number of births. The "baby boom" of the 1950s increased the number of women currently in the reproductive years, but there has been a progressive decrease in fertility rates. The main reasons for this decrease are the availability of better contraceptive methods and the liberalization of abortion laws in 1969. Each year an average of 60,000 therapeutic abortions are performed in Canada. If therapeutic abortions were included among other causes of death, they would represent the 2nd most frequent cause of death. Statistics Canada has projected that the annual rate of population growth in 2026 will have a negative value of 0.1 in spite of a presumed constant net immigration of 50,000 annually. Emigration also plays an important role, yet it is difficult to estimate because the only statements required when a Canadian resident leaves the country are those on an income tax return. At least 48,000 Canadians emigrated each year between 1966-76. If the present age distribution of the Canadian population is analyzed, and these figures are projected to the year 2026, one observes a significant increase in the elderly age groups and a significant decrease in the groups of working age. The slowdown in population growth and the changes to the age group distribution will require modifications in health care facilities. The elderly make more demands on physicians' services than other age groups, and their medical problems persist longer. Other social problems faced by the elderly in areas such as housing, jobs, clothing, and nutrition will necessitate radical structural changes to society.