Open AccessFamily Planning Programs for the 21st Century: Rationale and Design
Author(s) -
John Bongaarts,
John G.F. Cleland,
John Townsend,
Jane T. Bertrand,
Monica Das
Publication year - 2012
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.31899/rh11.1016
Subject(s) - family planning , empowerment , poverty , economic growth , psychological intervention , reproductive health , health care , public relations , fertility , political science , business , medicine , nursing , environmental health , economics , population , research methodology
Family planning improves health, reduces poverty, and empowers women. Yet, today, more than 200 million women in the developing world want to avoid pregnancy but are not using a modern method of contraception. They face many obstacles, including lack of access to information and health-care services, opposition from their husbands and communities, misperceptions about side effects, and cost. Family planning programs are among the most successful development interventions of the past 50 years. They are unique in their range of potential benefits, encompassing economic development, maternal and child health, educational advances, and women’s empowerment. Research shows that with high-quality voluntary family planning programs, governments are able to reduce fertility and produce large-scale improvements in health, wealth, human rights, and education. This book is a comprehensive resource for policymakers and donors. It makes the case for increased funding and support of voluntary family planning, and details how to design programs to operate both ethically and effectively.