The number of live births per 1000 women in a reproductive age group in a given year is known as :

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg.Entrance-2026

Explanation

The General Fertility Rate (GFR) is defined as the number of live births per 1000 women in the reproductive age group (typically 15-49 years) in a given year.
This measure is more refined than the crude birth rate because its denominator is restricted to the population actually at risk of childbearing.
The question's definition, specifying 'women in a reproductive age group' as the denominator, directly matches the definition of GFR.

Option A: The Birth Rate, or Crude Birth Rate (CBR), uses the total mid-year population (including men, children, and elderly) as its denominator, not just women of reproductive age.
Option C: The General Marital Fertility Rate further restricts the denominator to only married women within the reproductive age group.
Option D: The Age-Specific Fertility Rate calculates fertility for a narrower, specific age bracket (e.g., 20-24 years), not the entire reproductive age span (15-49 years).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Definitions of Fertility Rates as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Community health nurses use fertility rates to understand population dynamics, plan for maternal and child health (MCH) services, and allocate resources effectively.
A rising General Fertility Rate in a community might signal a need for more antenatal clinics, immunization services, and health education on family planning.
What if? If the question asked for the rate that best predicts the 'completed family size', the answer would be the Total Fertility Rate (TFR), which represents the average number of children a woman would have in her lifetime.

How to Approach the Question

First, break down the definition given in the question stem: Numerator = 'number of live births', Denominator = '1000 women in a reproductive age group'.
Next, analyze each option and recall its specific definition, paying close attention to the denominator.
Option A (Birth Rate) uses the total population as the denominator. This is a mismatch.
Option B (General Fertility Rate) uses women of reproductive age as the denominator. This is a perfect match.
Option C (General Marital Fertility Rate) adds the condition of being 'married'. This is too specific and not in the stem.
Option D (Age-Specific Fertility Rate) narrows the denominator to a smaller age band. This is also too specific.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QA82k9GF6Y7QQ-08_c5AmL

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart C (pp 404-604 of 604) p. 182-184

E6 NursingResearch Sukhpal Kaur p. 520-522

Practise the full IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg.Entrance-2026

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.