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
Infant Feeding Practices in Viet Nam
Sustained efforts to promote healthful infant feeding practices are likely to be required to maintain and improve the currently favourable situation.
By Truong Si Anh, Ngo Thi Thai Hoe, John Knodel, Le Huong and Tran Thi Thanh Thuy
Breast-Feeding in Bangladesh: Patterns and Impact on Fertility
Measures should be taken that will help to promote the practice of breast-feeding.
By Haider Rashid Mannan and M. Nural Islam
Singapore's `Three or More' Policy: The First Five Years
The new policy has succeeded in increasing the annual number of births, but fertility remains below the replacement level.
By Mui Teng Yap
Demographers' Notebook
Recent Fertility Declines in China and India: A Comparative View
Cumulative Index to volumes 1-10
This cumulative index of the quarterly Asia-Pacific Population Journal lists articles, papers and notes published between 1986 and 1995 by author, subject and geographic area.
The complete citation for each article in the Author Index is provided under the name of the first author; co-authors are listed alphabetically with a cross-reference to the first author.
The Subject Index and Geographic Index list articles alphabetically by title. For each entry in the index, the first number refers to the volume; the second number within parentheses refers to the particular issue, and the numbers following the colon refer to the pages. For example, 1(3):3-18 refers to the first volume published in 1986, the third issue, i.e. for September, and pages 3 to 18.
This Cumulative Index is being provided in response the request of numerous readers who suggested that ESCAP provide a cumulative index following its decade of publishing the Asia-Pacific Population Journal.
Infant Feeding Practices in Viet Nam
Results from two national surveys, conducted in 1988 and 1994, indicate that breast-feeding is virtually universal in Viet Nam, that its average duration is well over a year, and that there appears to be no indication of a decline during the last decade in either breast-feeding initiation or duration. Only a minority of mothers, however, initiate breast-feeding within the first few hours following birth as recommended by health officials; supplementary food and liquids, including plain water, are provided at very early ages. The current situation deserves careful monitoring in view of the opening up of the country to international commerce. The article draws out several implications for policy and programme purposes.
Breast-feeding in Bangladesh: Patterns and Impact on Fertility
This study shows that breast-feeding in Bangladesh is virtually universal and of long duration. It also shows that breast-feeding is the principal determinant of post-partum amenorrhoea, which offers a natural protection against pregnancy for up to 12 months. The study assesses the factors that are favourable to breast-feeding and draws out a number of implications for policy and programme purposes.
Singapore's `Three or More' Policy: The First Five Years
Although this article does not attempt a full evaluation of the "selectively pro-natalist" national population policy of Singapore, it does bring out some indicative findings useful for assessing the effects of the policy on fertility. It finds that, while the new policy has succeeded in increasing the annual number of births, the total fertility rate still remains under two children per woman.
For further information on this material please contact: loftus.unescap@un.org