Demography: gross reproduction rate: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Demography: gross reproduction rate

Sample item

A demographer wants a fertility measure that counts only the daughters a woman would bear over her lifetime if she survived through all her childbearing years. Which rate is this?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Gross reproduction rate

The gross reproduction rate is the average number of daughters a woman would bear if she passed through the childbearing years with current age-specific fertility and no mortality. The net reproduction rate applies the mortality of women, and the total fertility rate counts children of both sexes.

Option by option

  • A. Net reproduction rate

    The net reproduction rate also allows for women dying before the end of the childbearing years.

  • B. Gross reproduction rate (correct)

    Correct. It counts female births only and assumes no mortality of the mother.

  • C. Total fertility rate

    The total fertility rate counts children of both sexes, not just daughters.

  • D. General fertility rate

    The general fertility rate is births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 49 years in one year, not a lifetime figure.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is B, Gross reproduction rate. The gross reproduction rate is the average number of daughters a woman would bear if she passed through the childbearing years with current age-specific fertility and no mortality.

Why is "Net reproduction rate" not the answer?

The net reproduction rate also allows for women dying before the end of the childbearing years.

Why is "Total fertility rate" not the answer?

The total fertility rate counts children of both sexes, not just daughters.

Why is "General fertility rate" not the answer?

The general fertility rate is births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 49 years in one year, not a lifetime figure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Demography: gross reproduction rate in PSM. The net reproduction rate applies the mortality of women, and the total fertility rate counts children of both sexes.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Demography: gross reproduction rate?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.