Prepare for the A Level Sociology OCR Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with helpful hints and explanations. Ace your exam and enhance your understanding!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


How does the availability of neonatal medicine affect childbearing?

  1. Increases fertility rates

  2. Allows women to have children later in life

  3. Decreases the likelihood of pregnancy

  4. Reduces infant mortality but does not affect birth rates

The correct answer is: Allows women to have children later in life

The availability of neonatal medicine fundamentally impacts childbearing by providing advanced care and support for infants, which allows women to have children later in life with greater confidence in their health outcomes. As neonatal care improves, it reduces the risks associated with childbirth and infant survival, enabling women to postpone childbearing, often to focus on educational and career opportunities. This shift is supported by sociological research indicating that as medical technology progresses, societal norms around family planning evolve, allowing for delayed motherhood without the same level of concern for infant mortality that previous generations faced. While this perspective connects closely to the concept of fertility rates, a key factor is that it does not necessitate an immediate increase in births. Instead, it reflects a changing societal trend towards later childbearing as women feel more secure in the outcomes for their children due to better medical facilities. Thus, the enhancement of neonatal care intersects with decisions regarding the timing and number of children a woman chooses to have, aligning with the answer provided.