Reexamining the Impact of Family Planning Programs on U.S. Fertility
Reexamining the Impact of Family Planning Programs on U.S. Fertility

Author: Martha J. Bailey

Publisher:

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 42

ISBN-13:

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Almost 50 years after domestic U.S. family planning programs began, their effects on childbearing remain controversial. Using the county-level roll-out of these programs from 1964 to 1973, this paper reevaluates their shorter- and longer-term effects on U.S. fertility rates. I find that the introduction of family planning is associated with significant and persistent reductions in fertility driven both by falling completed childbearing and childbearing delay. Although federally-funded family planning accounted for a small portion of the post-baby boom U.S. fertility decline, the estimates imply that they reduced childbearing among poor women by 21 to 29 percent.

Methods for Measuring the Fertility Impact of Family Planning Programs
Methods for Measuring the Fertility Impact of Family Planning Programs

Author: Cynthia B. Lloyd

Publisher:

Published: 1989

Total Pages: 56

ISBN-13:

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This paper critically reviews the methods for measuring the impact of family planning programs on fertility used primarily in the last decade, based on the literature as well as site visits and interviews. The strengths and weakness of several acceptor-based and population-based methods are evaluated for use in particular settings. The acceptor- based methods include: reproductive process analysis, standard couple- years of protection (SCYP), CYP, individual matching and component projection (CONVERSE). The population-based methods are: decomposition (standardization), trend analysis, prevalence, areal regression, multilevel regression and experimental design. Current evaluations are focusing on identification of the aspects of programs that have an impact, their interaction, and their relative importance in different settings. Except for the use of CYP in several Asian programs to monitor performance of the program, population-based methods are in vogue recently. Reasons for their popularity are the availability of national survey data, microcomputers and software such as TARGET, and the need for target setting in country policy. Areal and multilevel regression and experimental design are the methods receiving the most attention. The success of the Matlab project has stimulated interest in experimental design.

The Value of Family Planning Programs in Developing Countries
The Value of Family Planning Programs in Developing Countries

Author: Rodolfo A. Bulatao

Publisher: RAND Corporation

Published: 1998

Total Pages: 108

ISBN-13:

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Family planning programs have been highly successful over the past 30 years in providing women in developing countries with desired access to contraceptive services and helping to reduce fertility rates. Notwithstanding this success, there is still an urgent need for these programs. The world's population is increasing, with annual population growth still approximately 80 million people. Nearly all of this growth is occurring in developing nations, where fertility rates remain relatively high. This high fertility runs counter to the preferences expressed by millions of women, who actually want to have smaller families. Family planning programs are also desirable because they are associated with a range of other benefits, most notably improvements in women's and children's health. Host countries provide about 60 to 75 percent of funding for family planning. However, funding and technical assistance from donor nations, especially the United States, have been crucial to the past success of family planning programs and are equally important for strengthening and expanding program efforts to meet future challenges.

The Role of Family Planning Programs in Contemporary Fertility Transitions
The Role of Family Planning Programs in Contemporary Fertility Transitions

Author: John Bongaarts

Publisher:

Published: 1995

Total Pages: 46

ISBN-13:

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The implementation of family planning programs has been the principal population policy instrument in the developing world over the past few decades. This paper reviews that controversy over the role these programs have played in reducing fertility. Opposing views on a number of contentious issues (for example, the significance of unmet need and unwanted fertility) are summarized and a consensus position is presented. Surprisingly, recent estimates of the fertility reductions achievable through the implementation of strong family planning programs differ only modestly--from 1 to 1.4 births per woman. Since only a small proportion of countries have implemented strong programs, the (unweighted) average impact of programs in 1985-90 is estimated at only 0.33 births per woman. However, the (weighted) average, which gives the program impact for the developing world as a whole, is estimated at 0.96 births per woman in the late 1980s. This suggests that programs have been responsible for about 43% of the fertility decline in the developing world between 1960-65 and 1985-90.