The electronic version of the Asia-Pacific Population Journal is being made available by the ESCAP Population Division and the Population Information Network (POPIN) of the United Nations Population Division/DESIPA, with the funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Abstract
Articles
Ahead of Target: Achievement of Replacement Level Fertility in Sri Lanka before the Year 2000
Sri Lanka will have a rapidly ageing population, and this change will require substantial shifts in policies to cater for changing needs.
By W. Indralal De Silva
Provincial Patterns of Contraceptive Use in China
More attention should be paid to the quality of care in family planning programmes instead of focusing on quantitative aspects.
By Quanhe Yang
Problems and Prospects of Implants as a Contraceptive Method in Bangladesh
Norplant is an acceptable method of family planning and should be made available along with other methods of contraception.
By M. Mujibur Rahman, M. Nurul Islam, Md. Azizul Haque and G.M. Kamal
Demographers' Notebook
Cairo Programme of Action Adopted
Ahead of Target: Achievement of Replacement Level Fertility in Sri Lanka before the Year 2000
Compared with all other South Asian countries, Sri Lanka has had the highest rate of fertility decline; between 1960-1965 and 1985-1990, the total fertility rate declined by almost 50 per cent. This article discusses the country's fertility control policies, programmes, targets and other factors related to its rapid fertility decline. It describes how the replacement level of fertility was reached in 1993 despite a lower than expected contraceptive prevalence rate. A significantly large proportion of women seem to be relying on induced abortion to terminate unwanted pregnancies. It concludes by raising a number of questions for policy makers to address, especially the need to prepare for population changes in the next century brought about by low fertility.
Provincial Patterns of Contraceptive Use in China
One of the important changes that has occurred in China as a result of the economic reforms begun in the late 1970s relates to the implementation of population policies. There has been a change from centrally enforced policy implementation in the late 1970s and early 1980s to a more decentralized approach with local family planning regulations being emphasized since the mid-1980s. This study focuses on the relationship between regional socio-economic development, decentralized family planning programmes and the patters of contraceptive use in different provinces. It finds that the programme should focus on providing more method choices, giving more information to clients, strengthening the technical competence of service providers, improving interpersonal relations and appropriating constellation services.
Problems and Prospects of Implants as a Contraceptive Method in Bangladesh
This study attempts to document the provision of Norplant in Bangladesh, particularly at seven centres located in various parts of the country. It brings out problems faced with the introduction of this contraceptive and the prospects for its further dissemination on a nationwide scale. It finds that the method is an acceptable one in Bangladesh. The study finds that, while clients are generally satisfied with the information and services they have received, there have been problems associated with the programme, particularly as they concern the removal of the implants.
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