Which of the following countries have a one-child policy?

Appeared in: MP NHM CHO-2024 (Shift-2)

Explanation

China is the country historically known for its 'one-child policy,' a population planning initiative implemented in 1979.
The policy was designed to control rapid population growth and was strictly enforced for decades.
Although the policy was officially ended in 2015 and replaced with two-child and later three-child policies, China is the only country on the list to have had such a mandate.

Option A: Japan faces a demographic crisis with a very low birth rate and an aging population; its government actively encourages childbirth.
Option B: India's approach to population control is based on voluntary family planning programs and education, not a mandatory one-child rule.
Option D: The United States has no history of federal mandates limiting the number of children a family can have; family size is considered a private matter.

Visual 1: Infographic: A timeline showing the start (1979) and end (2015) of China's one-child policy, along with the introduction of the two-child and three-child policies.
Visual 2: Map: A world map highlighting China with a callout box explaining the one-child policy, and contrasting it with the population trends in Japan, India, and the USA.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Knowledge of global population control policies as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding global demographic trends is important for public health professionals to anticipate future health challenges, resource allocation, and migration patterns.
Policies like the one-child policy have profound long-term effects on a country's age structure, leading to challenges like a shrinking workforce and an increased burden on social security and healthcare for the elderly.
What if? If a country with a high birth rate were to implement a strict one-child policy today, it could lead to a rapid demographic shift but also raise significant ethical concerns, human rights issues, and potential for social unrest, unlike the voluntary measures currently promoted by most nations.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key term in the question: 'one-child policy'.
This is a factual recall question. Access your knowledge of major global policies of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Associate the 'one-child policy' with the country most famous for implementing it.
Evaluate each option: Japan is known for an aging population, India for voluntary family planning, and the USA for having no such policy.
Conclude that China is the only country on the list that has implemented this specific, well-known policy.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Knowledge of global population control policies
Stem keywords: one-child policy, countries
Lead-in keywords: Which
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.

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Practise the full MP NHM CHO-2024 (Shift-2)

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