Problem
Dependency of children
Other Names:
Excessive childhood dependency Incidence:
In the developing countries the ratio of children to adults is typically very high because of the high birth rate. The burden of childhood dependency may be lightened by putting the children to work at an early age, but the employment of children is not compatible with a high standard of education and therefore is not a satisfactory solution. In so far as the birth rate continues to remain the same, any addition to the adult population implies a proportionate increase in the number of births. If death rates fall while birth rates remain constant, the size of each successive generation will be larger but the average number of dependent children per adult will be practically unchanged. The developing countries will continue to suffer the economic handicap of heavy childhood dependency as long as birth rates remain unchanged.
Broader Problems:
Annulment of adoptionUnproductive dependents Narrower Problems:
Refusal of adoptionDiscrimination in adoption Related Problems:
Dependence on childrenDependency of women in marriage Aggravates:
Family stressChild-marriageVulnerable childrenEmotional disordersCruelty to childrenExploitation of childrenInadequate child welfareExploitation of child labourArtificially prolonged childhoodEmotional dependency in marriageSocial isolation of women at homePhysical maltreatment of childrenRepressive detention of juvenilesLack of protection for the vulnerable Strategies:
DependingUsing children Subject(s):
Societal Problems → DependenceSociety → Infants
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
D: Detailed problems Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST