5 Solutions to Overpopulation Explained

Solutions to overpopulation are; legalization of contraception, promotion of family planning, empowerment for women and girls, creation of awareness, and government incentives.

This article discusses the solutions to overpopulation, as follows;

 

1). Legalization of Contraception (as one of the Solutions to Overpopulation)

Contraception is simply the deliberate control of birth rates using contraceptive materials and methods.

These contraceptive materials and methods are essential to control overpopulation and mitigate its harmful socioeconomic and environmental impacts like poverty, food insecurity and environmental degradation.

Generally, an increase in access to reproductive healthcare will help with solving the problem of overpopulation in affected regions.

In areas where contraception is limited or entirely prohibited by existing regulations, the removal of such restrictions will enable the population to take active steps toward controlling birth rates through the prevention of unplanned or unwanted pregnancies [4].

As this implies, legalization of contraception is also helpful as a means to achieve other solutions to overpopulation like family planning, and to mitigate all effects of overpopulation.

Examples of contraceptives include implants, pills and injectables [3].

2). Promotion of Family Planning

Family planning is simply the consideration of available resources when deciding the scheme and responsibilities to be observed in a family; which includes the size of the family itself.

It is a very useful concept and practice, as it helps ensure that the basic needs of each individual in the family and society at large, are met.

Family planning helps in solving overpopulation and mitigating its effects, by enabling individuals to align their birth rates to their capacity to support their offspring.

When such considerations are made, the risk of overpopulation, resource depletion, scarcity and other socioeconomic problems, is grossly reduced.

Services can be offered for voluntary family planning, as part of healthcare. Governmental regulations may also recommend or enforce family planning as part of proactive steps to achieve sustainability in areas affected by overpopulation and/or resource deficiency.

As earlier indicated, family planning is closely linked to contraception and its legalization.

Methods and materials for birth control are often provided and used in the course of adhering to family planning schemes.

Low-literacy populations, and women, are two prominent groups impacted positively by family planning, which helps them better control their reproductive lives and health.

Solutions to Overpopulation: Promotion of Family Planning (Credit: DKT Ethiopia 2013 .CC BY 2.0.)
Solutions to Overpopulation: Promotion of Family Planning (Credit: DKT Ethiopia 2013 .CC BY 2.0.)

3). Empowerment for Women and Girls (as one of the Solutions to Overpopulation)

The empowerment of women and girls is an effective solution to overpopulation.

It is also a key measure in the effort to achieve sustainable development, as it increases the socioeconomic performance and output of the society at large [1].

When women and girls are empowered, birth rates are reduced. This is especially the case for regions affected by low-literacy levels, economic recession and overpopulation.

One of the most important forms of empowerment for women and girls is education.

In general, educated women are less likely to reproduce in an unsustainable manner, as they tend to better understand the socioeconomic implications of unsustainable birth rates [2].

Empowerment may also occur in the form of promotion of women’s rights and gender equality in areas where these concepts and practices are not established.

Lastly, schemes targeting women and girls for economic development can reduce conception rates and help solve the overpopulation problem, by placing these individuals in productive positions in the society.

Solutions to Overpopulation: Empowerment for Women and Girls (Credit: USAID 2006)
Solutions to Overpopulation: Empowerment for Women and Girls (Credit: USAID 2006)

4). Creation of Awareness

Awareness creation is another effective mitigation measure for solving the problem of overpopulation.

Creating awareness about the causes and implications of overpopulation should be done at all levels.

Children and young adults stand to benefit from such programs, which will help them make informed and careful decisions in their reproductive lives.

Awareness creation must also target poor and illiterate populations, which are most vulnerable to overpopulation.

It is important to note that this measure can be combined with other solutions like women empowerment, and contraception regulations.

5). Government Incentives (as one of the Solutions to Overpopulation)

Government incentives can help solve the problem of overpopulation.

These incentives can be applied in the form of funding for contraception and family planning schemes.

They may also be in the form of provision of subsidized healthcare services to low-income populations.

In parts of the world like Asia, tax incentives have been allocated to well-planned families as a means of facilitating population control [5].

Conclusion

Solutions to overpopulation are;

1. Legalization of Contraception

2. Promotion of Family Planning

3. Empowerment for Women and Girls

4. Creation of Awareness

5. Government Incentives

References

1). Dewi, G. D. P. (2021). “Women’s empowerment for socioeconomic sustainable development in Singapore.” IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 729(1):012098. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/729/1/012098. (Accessed 21 November 2022).

2). Isaacs, S. L. (1995). “Incentives, population policy, and reproductive rights: ethical issues.” Stud Fam Plann. 1995 Nov-Dec;26(6):363-7. PMID: 8826075. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8826075/. (Accessed 20 November 2022).

3). Jacobstein, R.; Stanley, H. (2013). “Contraceptive implants: providing better choice to meet growing family planning demand.” Glob Health Sci Pract. 2013 August; 1(2): 285. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4168562/. (Accessed 21 November 2022).

4). Karamouzian, M. (2015). “Population control policies in Iran.” The Lancet 385(9973). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60596-7. (Accessed 21 November 2022).

5). Kebede, E.; Striessnig, E.; Goujon, A. (2019). “The relative importance of women’s education on fertility desires in sub-Saharan Africa: A multilevel analysis.” VID Working Papers. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00324728.2021.1892170. (Accessed 21 November 2022).

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