How is the age-specific birth rate defined?

The age-specific birth rate is accurately defined as the total number of births among women of a specified age group per 1000 women in that same age group. This measure allows demographers and public health officials to understand fertility patterns more clearly by focusing on specific cohorts of women, which can vary greatly in different demographic situations.

This approach contrasts with a general birth rate, which considers the entire population regardless of age. Therefore, the age-specific birth rate provides valuable insights into reproductive behavior for different age categories, allowing for targeted health services and policies aimed at those specific age groups.

In contrast, other options refer to broader population metrics or unrelated statistics. For example, the first option describes the general birth rate for the entire population, while the third option deals with total fertility rate, which summarizes the average number of children born per woman over her lifetime. The last option discusses mortality rates, which are unrelated to birth rates. Thus, option B specifically captures the nuance of focusing on a defined age group, making it the correct choice.