Most of the information for this survey is compiled from the web site of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) at <http://www. ippf.org/regions/countryprofiles>. Some of the information is also dependent on data from the United Nations Population Information Network. Data are believed to be accurate to 1998 except where noted.The World Factbook 1997-1998 filled in information for countries with a population over one million that have no IPPF affiliate. The references to crude birth rate are births per 1,000 population in a given year; the total fertility rate as used here is the average number of live births for women between ages fifteen and forty-nine. For example, at current rates in the United States, the total fertility rate is 2. Since the replacement rate for a population is 2.1, if this rate holds, there will be an eventual leveling off of the population in the United States and an ultimate decline, unless of course, the rate of immigration overcomes the low fertility rate. Most countries have a higher total fertility rate than the United States, but the ideal for a leveling and ultimate decline in population growth is 2.1 or less. The other data are self-explanatory, except complete information is not always available. The major nongovernmental organization (NGO) involved in family planning, usually an affiliate of the IPPF, is listed for each country for which such information is available.
Major countries with populations of more than 10 million are listed first in alphabetical order, then countries with populations of less than 10 million by their geographical areas.
Countries over 10 Million Population
Afghanistan
North of Pakistan in southwestern Asia, Afghanistan, after about twenty years of war, has a Muslim government that strictly enforces shariah (Islamic law). It is a very poor, landlocked country that is dependent on subsistence farming and raising livestock. It has a family planning group—the Afghan Family Planning Association. Address: PO Box 545, Kabul, Afghanistan; telephone: 93 22659; cable: FAMI-LYGUIDE KABUL.
|
Population (millions, 1996 est.) 22.7 |
|
Birth rate (1996 est.) 43 |
|
Total fertility rate (1996 est.) 6.14 |
Algeria
The government of Algeria, a country in northwestern Africa, has attempted since 1983 to bring about a reduction in population growth by, among other things, increasing contraceptive use. The Association Algerienne pour la Planification Famil-iale (AFPA) was formed in 1987 to disseminate information, carry out public education, and work with government and religious groups to encourage contraception. Address: 49 rue des Jardins Hydra, Alger, Algeria; telephone: 213 (2) 603 168; fax: 213 (2) 604 975; telex: (0408) 55257 AAPFDZ.
|
Population (millions) 30.2 |
|
Crude birth rate 31 |
|
Total fertility rate 4.4 |
|
Women 15—49 using any |
\ |
|
method of contraception |
47 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern |
|
|
methods of contraception |
43 percent |
Angola
Angola is a country in equatorial Africa bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Since its independence from Portugal in 1975, Angola has been in a state of continual civil war. Despite rich natural resources, including oil, gold, rich soil, diamonds, fisheries, and forests, the economy is in disarray and the people are poor. The important organization concerned with contraception is Associa^ao Angolana para o Bem Estar da Familia. Address: Rua C-6 No. 36, Rangel, Luanda, Angola; telephone: 244 (2) 33 94 21 or 33 85 67; fax: c/o Paulo Pombolo, IEC Director: 244 (2) 32 11 05; telex: 3226 MINSA, AN/4186Mirexan/3202.
|
Population (millions) |
12 |
|
Crude birth rate |
51 |
|
Total fertility rate |
7.2 |
Argentina
Argentina, a large country in southern South America, enacted a law in 1986 making the states responsible for providing family planning services. However, lack of human and material resources and the controversy surrounding the law have acted to prevent the execution of the law. Attempting to fill this gap and also lobbying to get the state more active is the Asociacion Argentina de Proteccion Familiar (AAPF). It maintains a pilot medical center in Buenos Aires and offers its services through nearly 200 medical offices associated with public hospitals and health centers. Among adolescents under age twenty, contraceptive use varies between 30 and 50 percent and is related to level of education and availability. Telephone of the AAPF: 54 (1) 826 1216; fax: 54 (1) 824 8416; e-mail: aapf@ciudad. com.ar.
|
Population (millions) |
36.1 |
|
Crude birth rate |
19 |
|
Total fertility rate |
2.5 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method |
|
|
of contraception |
74 percent |
Australia
The government of Australia, a continent between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, provides funding for family planning, usually through Family Planning Australia, a representative national body for the independent state organizations that run Family Planning Programs throughout Australia. The organization provides community education, dispenses contraceptive information, and also deals with sexually transmitted diseases. It also manages a number of regional training programs in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia. Address: 9/114 Maitland St., Hackett ACT 2602,Australia; telephone: 61 (2) 6230 5255; fax: 61 (2) 6230 5344; e-mail: fpa@actonline.com.au; web: <http://www.actonline.com.au/fpa>.
|
Population (millions) |
18.7 |
|
Crude birth rate |
14 |
|
Total fertility rate |
1.8 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method |
|
|
of contraception |
76 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern |
|
|
methods of contraception |
72 percent |
Bangladesh
A very poor country in Southeast Asia, Bangladesh has a government strongly committed to family planning. It has prioritized a National Population Program to reduce fertility to the replacement rate by 2005. Services are provided by the government through a network of Union Health and Family Welfare Centers, satellite clinics, and field workers as well as by the complementary work of nongovernmental organizations. Contraceptive supplies, however, are erratic, and the government is attempting to foster contraceptive manufacturing in the private sector. The high level of public awareness of family planning is not matched by contraceptive use, since there is a social preference for early marriage, large families, and male offspring.
The Family Planning Association of Bangladesh (FPAB), the oldest and largest nongovernmental organization in family planning in Bangladesh, contributes around 7 percent of the national family planning success. It emphasizes female empowerment as part of family planning but at the same time tries to increase male involvement. Address: PO Box 3714, 1000 Dhaka, Bangladesh; telephone: 880 (2) 4161346,880 (2) 417 5523; fax: 880 (2) 83 3008; telex: 632379 IFICB, BJ/642940 ADAB BJ; cable: BAFAM-PLANSDHAKA; e-mail: fpab1@citechco.net.
|
Population (millions) |
123.4 |
|
Crude birth rate |
25.6 |
|
Total fertility rate |
3.3 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method |
|
|
of contraception |
49 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern |
|
|
methods of contraception |
42 percent |
Belgium
The government of the western European country of Belgium has never developed an explicit family planning policy. Such services are provided by different organizations that are funded by regional government, and the cost of certain contraceptives (oral contraceptives and sterilization) is refunded by the federal health insurance system. First-trimester abortion on the request of the woman is legal. There are two federations of family planning groups, one for each language group. Federatie Centra voor Geboortenregeling en Seksuele Opvoeding (CGSO Trefpunt) originally was a federation of fourteen family planning centers in the Flemish-speaking part of Belgium. There is still cooperation between it and the now thirty centers providing such service, although generally it acts as a center of expertise providing services for professionals and information to the general public as well as developing sex education materials and lobbying the government of Flanders. Telephone for CGSO Trefpunt: 32 (9) 221 0722; fax: 32 (9) 220 8406; e-mail: cgso@xs4all.be; web: <http://www.cgso.be>.
The French-speaking portion of Belgium works through the Federation Francophone Belge pour le Planning Familial et l’Education Sexuelle (FFBPFES). It runs some thirty-seven family centers and lobbies the Wallonian government, the major source of its funding, for women’s reproductive health rights, conducts training for health personnel, and conducts educational campaigns. Telephone for FFBPFES: 32 (2) 502 8203 or 32 (2) 502 6800; fax: 32 (2) 502 2613.
|
Population (millions) |
10.2 |
|
Crude birth rate |
12 |
|
Total fertility rate |
1.6 |
Brazil
Brazil, the largest country in South America, is on the Atlantic Ocean. Although more than half of all sexually active women use modern contraceptives, there are significant differences between those who live in urban and rural areas, those with different educational levels, and those who live in different regions of the country. Abortion is allowed only in case of rape or to save the life of the mother, but there is a high rate of illegal abortion, which is responsible for 12 percent of all maternal deaths. Female sterilization (40 percent) and oral contraceptives (21 percent) are the most commonly used contraceptives.
The Sociedad Civil Bem-Estar Familiar no Brasil (BEMFAM) is the largest nonprofit organization providing reproductive health services in the country. With twelve clinics and twenty government programs, it provided 3,098,897 consultations in 1994. Services include gynecological consultation, contraceptive counseling, Pap smears, prenatal care, and education about sexually transmitted diseases. Address: CEP 20031-170, RJ, Centro Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; telephone: 55 (21) 210 2448 or 55 (21) 262 3933; fax: 55 (21) 220 4057; telex: 3912130634 BEMFAM; e-mail: info@bemfam.org.br.
|
Population (millions) |
162.1 |
|
Crude birth rate |
22 |
|
Total fertility rate |
2.5 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method of contraception |
77 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern methods of contraception |
70 percent |
Burkina Faso
One of the world’s least developed countries, landlocked Burkina Faso is located north of Ghana in West-Central Africa. Contraceptive use is low, although the government is favorable to family planning as part of primary health care and social well-being. It was not until 1986 that the country replaced the French colonial law outlawing contraception, and in 1991 a population policy was finally adopted that was designed to increase contraceptive prevalence by 60 percent by the year 2005. The country has 2 national hospitals, 10 regional ones, 72 medical centers, 628 health and social centers, 132 dispensaries, and 16 maternity hospitals. There is, however, still little information about contraceptives available.
Abortion is very Limited, and backstreet abortions are common. It was only in 1997 that the government banned female genital mutilation. One of the groups attempting to carry out educational programs is the Association Burkinabe pour le Bien-Etre Familial. Address: BP 535, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; telephone: 226 310598; 226 317510; telex: 1111; email: ABBEF@fasonet.bf.
|
Population (millions) |
11.3 |
|
Crude birth rate |
47 |
|
Total fertility rate |
6.9 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method of contraception |
15 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern methods of contraception |
8 percent |
Cambodia
Cambodia, a country in Southeast Asia, adopted a pronatalist policy in 1979 to overcome the heavy loss of population in the wars of the 1970s. By early 1990, however, the government began a birth spacing policy that established the right of every individual to family planning information and services. Family planning services are offered in most public-sector hospitals throughout the country, and many private physicians offer intrauterine device insertion services. In 1997, the National Assembly adopted an abortion law allowing abortions if women request such services.
Implementation of family planning in rural areas, however, is difficult because of the underdeveloped transport and communication infrastructure and because women have a low level of literacy. Following the work of a USAID-funded Family Health and Spacing Project that began in 1994, the Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia (RHAC) was established as an independent indigenous nongovernmental organization. It receives support from the government, members of the European community, and various international family planning groups. It has four clinics, a network of approximately 400 Health Development Team agents, and nearly 100 staff members.The clinics offer family planning services as well as treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and prenatal care. RHAC introduced Norplant in Cambodia in 1996 and in 1997 established a comprehensive reproductive health program for youth. The postal address for the group is House #6, Road 150, Sanguat Veal Vong, Khan 7 Makara, Phnom Penh,Cambodia; telephone: 855 (23) 36 62 95; fax: 855 (23) 36 61 94; e-mail: rhac@bigpond.org.kh.
|
Population (millions) |
10.8 |
|
Crude birth rate |
38 |
|
Total fertility rate |
17 |
Cameroon
A West-Central African country bordering Nigeria, Cameroon has a large population with no access to public health services and a high level of illiteracy. In 1992 the government adopted a population policy calling for responsible parenthood in fertility decisions and for education programs, but implementation is difficult because of traditional pronatalist attitudes and the lack of effective infrastructure. Abortion is allowed only in case of risk to a woman’s life, of fetal defects, or of rape or incest.
The Cameroon National Association for Family Welfare is a nongovernmental organization organized to support government efforts not only in dissemination of contraceptive information but also in nutrition, parasite control, general welfare issues, and sexually transmitted diseases. It distributes condoms and other nonprescriptive contraceptives. In 1999, however, only 16 percent of the women between ages fifteen and forty-nine were using any method of contraception, and only 4 percent were using modern methods.
Address: CAMNAFAW, BP 11994, Yaound, Cameroon; telephone: 237 23 7984; fax: 237 23 7984; telex: 8512 or 1140; e-mail: camnafaw@icc-net.cm.
|
Population (millions) |
14.3 |
|
Crude birth rate |
41 |
|
Total fertility rate |
5.9 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method of contraception |
16 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern methods of contraception |
4 percent |
Canada
The fertility rate of Canada in North America is at an all time low, and, if present trends continue, annual deaths could equal or surpass births by 2020. Provincial governments are responsible for providing family planning in each province, and some, such as Ontario, have excellent programs whereas others, such as PrinceEdward Island, have no family planning clinics at all. Abortion is available.The federal government has eliminated the family planning division of the Health and Welfare Department, although it gives minimal support to the Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada (PPFC). The Canadian International Development Agency provides support to family planning in the developing world. Telephone of PPFC: 1 (613) 241 4474; fax: 1 (613) 241 7550; e-mail: admin@ppfc.ca; web: <http://www.ppfc.ca>.
|
Population (millions) |
30.6 |
|
Crude birth rate |
12 |
|
Total fertility rate |
1.6 |
|
Women 15—49 using all methods of contraception |
73 percent |
Chile
Chile is a long strip of land along the Pacific Ocean in South America. It has one of the lowest fertility rates and one of the fastest-falling birth rates in Latin America. There is, however, a high rate of teenage pregnancy. Abortion is illegal, but it remains a leading cause of maternal mortality. Almost all births take place in institutions with professionals in attendance. The government supports a policy of family planning and recognizes it as a human right.
The Asociacion Chilena de Proteccion de la Familia, founded in 1962, was the first family planning organization in Chile to focus on small programs in underserved and impoverished areas. It is not supported by the state and is chronically under-funded.Address: Cassila 16504, Correo 9, Santiago, Chile; telephone: 56 (2) 334 8246, 56 (2) 334 8227, or 56 (2) 234 3931; fax: 56 (2) 334 8235; email: aprofa@interacess.ci.
|
Population (millions) |
14.8 |
|
Crude birth rate |
19 |
|
Total fertility rate |
2.4 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method of contraception |
43 percent |
China
A large country with a huge population, China lies between Korea and Vietnam in eastern Asia. The target of the Chinese government between 1991 and 2000 has been to keep the annual rate of natural population below 1.5 percent in the decade and to stopthe population growth at 1.3 billion. This they did by promoting family planning, late marriages, and fewer but healthier births with the ideal of one child per couple. Abortion is legal, and prostaglandins, especially mifepristone, are widely available.
The success of the family program has been handicapped by the traditional preference for sons and large families and by the spread of the population to remote, mountainous, and poverty-stricken areas where family planning and services are not made easily available. The nongovernmental organization that plays a significant role in China’s family planning program is the China Family Planning Association. Its target audience is women of reproductive age in economically less-developed areas. Telephone for the China Family Planning Association: 86 (10) 6441 7612; fax: 86 (10) 6442 7612; telex: 211231 CFPA CN; e-mail: cfpa@public.fhnet.cn.net.
|
Population (millions) |
1,242.5 |
|
Crude birth rate |
17 |
|
Total fertility rate |
1.8 |
|
Women 15—49 using any kind of contraception |
83 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern methods of contraception |
81 percent |
Colombia
In Colombia, which lies in northern South America, the birth rate dropped by half in the last twenty-five years of the twentieth century. Contraceptive use has gone from being almost nonexistent to 72 percent in 1999. The 1991 national constitution included an article about the right to family planning, although family planning services provided by the central government are still marginal.
The Asociacion Pro-Bienestar de la Familia Colombiana (Profamilia), founded in 1965, has thirty-five centers in thirty-one cities and a national marketing program with thousands of retailers. It provided directly and indirectly most of the family planning in Colombia, although in 1999 the percentage fell somewhat due to the 1993 health law, Law 100, which forced all private and public health institutions in the country to supply family planning services. Also, international support for Colombian efforts, much of it channeled through Profamilia, declined since its success meant that it was no longer seen as a priority country. Profamilia relied heavily onintrauterine device insertion, Norplant, and voluntary female and male sterilizations. Profamilia telephone: 571-338-31-60; fax: 571-338-31-59; e-mail: DireccionEjectiv@profamilia.or.co or Relaciones-Publicas @profamilia.org.co; web: <http://www. profamilia.org.co>.
|
Population (millions) |
40 |
|
Crude birth rate |
26 |
|
Total fertility rate |
2.7 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method of contraception |
82 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern methods of contraception |
59 percent |
Congo, Democratic Republic of
The Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), in central Africa northeast of Angola, is one of the largest and most populous countries on the African continent. Its years of economic crisis, poor infrastructure, and political instability have had a negative impact on family health. Like many other countries where French influence was strong, it had a colonial law banning contraception. In 1972, however, the government encouraged a policy of birth spacing (called desirable births) and in 1982 launched an official project toward this end. Although other policies have been drafted, most have never been formally adopted, and much of the effort has fallen on volunteer organizations supported by religious groups or foreign governments, including a USAID project.
The Association pour le Bien-etre Familial has attempted to extend information on reproductive health and family planning to semiurban and rural communities. One of its emphases is training nongovernmental organization representatives not only in sexual and reproductive health and social rights of women, but encouraging such groups to engage in income-generating activities to help support themselves. Address: BP 15313, Kinshasa, Dem. Rep. of Congo; telephone: 243 (12) 44598; fax: 243 (88) 70703; telex: 21537 LASCO ZR, attn: AZBEF.
|
Population (millions) |
49 |
|
Crude birth rate |
48 |
|
Total fertility rate |
0.6 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method of contraception |
8 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern |
|
|
methods of contraception |
3 percent |
Cote d’lvoire
Cote d’Ivoire borders Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Liberian West Africa. Its government favors family planning and works in collaboration with the Association Ivoirienne pour le Bien-Etre Familial (AIBEF) to increase the use of contraceptives. Information and education about population matters are provided by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Affairs as well as the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. Maternal and child health along with family planning services are provided through thirty-five health centers across the country. Contraceptives are also distributed by more than thirty private clinics and by most pharmacies and drug stores. The population’s attitude, however, remains pronatalist, and lack of family planning facilities and a shortage of equipment and of trained staff have impeded progress. The address of the AIBEF is 01 BP 5315, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire; telephone: 225 25 1811 or 225 25 1812; fax: 225 25 1868; telex: 23930/23927 CABIN CI.
|
Population (millions) |
15.6 |
|
Crude birth rate |
39 |
|
Total fertility rate |
5.7 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method of contraception |
11 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern methods of contraception |
4 percent |
Cuba
A Caribbean archipelago south of Florida, Cuba is said to be in its “final phase” of a demographic transition, although it is still categorized as a developing country. The fertility rate is below the replacement rate. The government has made health care for women and children a main priority in its public health policy. Handicapping the population policy, however, has been an insufficient supply of some contraceptive methods and a lack of choice of methods. Abortion is legal and institutionalized within the country, but the rate of abortion has been falling over the years. The Sociedad Cientifica Cubana para el Desarrollo de la Familia (SOCUDEF) operates 114 community-based family planning delivery units in government-owned clinics. This accounts for 45 percent of the contraceptive service delivery as well as the services forinfertility. SOCUDEF has more than 500 volunteers and more than 1,700 community activists, the majority of whom are women. It provides information, guidance, education, and services, and also maintains a youth training center in Cienfuegos province aimed at adolescents; similar projects, although not on the same scale, exist in other provinces. Telephone: 53 (7) 24 2436 or 53 (7) 24 2119; fax: 53 (7) 24 2545; e-mail: socudef@cenial.inf.cu.
|
Population (millions) |
11.1 |
|
Crude birth rate |
14 |
|
Total fertility rate |
1.4 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method of contraception |
70 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern methods of contraception |
68 percent |
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is located in central Europe southeast of Germany. Family planning services are provided in hospitals as well as in nongovernmental clinics.The traditional model of family formation and reproductive behavior has been replaced by a pattern of later marriage and delayed childbearing. Modern contraceptives are available, and first-trimester abortion on request is legal. The incidence of abortion has been declining. The Czech Society for Family Planning and Sex Education (SPRSV) runs clinics offering a range of contraceptive and counseling services. It also offers lectures on sex education and reproductive health. SPRSV telephone: 420 (2) 2423 2552; fax: 420 (2) 2423 2553; e-mail: planrod@login.cz.
|
Population (millions) |
10.3 |
|
Crude birth rate |
9 |
|
Total fertility rate |
1.2 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method of contraception |
69 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern methods of contraception |
45 percent |
Ecuador
Ecuador lies in northwestern South America between Colombia and Peru.The constitution guarantees family planning as well as the right of parents to have the number of children they can support and educate. Family planning is provided through government maternal and child health programs. Abortion is illegal.The Asociacion-Pro Bienestar de la Familia Ecuato-riana (APROFE), founded in 1965, works closely with the government, sponsoring workshops and lectures around the country. The APROFE has clinics in most of the major cities, providing a variety of contraceptives as well as sterilization and family planning. The APROFE sells contraceptives at subsidized prices from a variety of shops and offices in the country. It pays special attention to young men and women. Address: PO Box 09-01-5954, Guayaquil, Ecuador; telephone: 593 (4) 419 666 or 593 (4) 400 888; fax: 593 (4) 419 667; cable: APROFE; e-mail: aprofe@aprofe.org.ec.
|
Population (millions) |
12.2 |
|
Crude birth rate |
28 |
|
Total fertility rate |
3.6 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method of contraception |
57 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern methods of contraception |
46 percent |
Egypt
Egypt, an ancient country on the Mediterranean Sea between Libya and the Gaza Strip, took some tentative steps toward population planning in the 1950s, but an explicit policy did not emerge until 1985 with the establishment of the National Population Council. Out of this arose the Egyptian Family Planning Association, which from 1995 began establishing a number of family planning clinics. Strong government support has made it the major family planning organization working in collaboration with the government. One of its priority targets is rural areas, where the prevalence of contraceptive practices is the lowest.Telephone: 20 (2) 270-6374 or 20 (2) 270-7250; fax: 20 (2) 270-6372; telex: 091 22950EFPA UN; cable: GEEPLAN CAIRO; e-mail: efpa@idsc.gov.eg.
|
Population (millions) |
65.5 |
|
Crude birth rate |
28 |
|
Total fertility rate |
3.6 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method of contraception |
48 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern methods of contraception |
46 percent |
Ethiopia
Ethiopia lies in eastern Africa, west of Somalia. The government officially adopted family planning as ahealth-promoting measure for mothers and children in 1980 and integrated family planning services with maternal and child health in 1,628 health institutions run by the Ministry of Health.The transitional government in 1993 continued the policy. The program, however, has been handicapped by political instability.
The Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia has focused its efforts on educational campaigns. It also operates a Saturday youth clinic in Addis Ababa to reach adolescents with its message. Address: PO Box 5716, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; telephone: 251 (1) 51 89 09 or 251 (1) 51 41 11; fax: 251 (1) 51 21 92; telex: 21473 FGAE; cable: BETESEB; e-mail: fgae@telecom.net.et.
|
Population (millions) |
58.4 |
|
Crude birth rate |
46 |
|
Total fertility rate |
7 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method of contraception |
4 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern methods of contraception |
3 percent |
France
France lies in western Europe between Belgium and Spain. It has no explicitly formulated policy on family planning, but such services are available in government-regulated centers. Such centers are, however, sparse in rural areas. Prescriptive contraceptives are available from licensed pharmacies, and condoms are available from a wide variety of outlets. First-trimester abortion on request is legal. The law does not recognize sexuality in a minor, since contraception is available freely and anonymously without any condition as to age. A girl can go through pregnancy and give birth without parental consent, but an unmarried minor needs parental consent or a judge’s approval to obtain a legal abortion.
The Mouvement Francis pour le Planning Familial is a feminist movement that cites its activities in the wider context of combating social inequalities and sexual oppression. It is a leading member of the High Council for Information on Sex, a national umbrella organization for nongovernmental organizations working in the broad field of sexual and reproductive rights. It is affiliated with the International Planned Parenthood Federation.Telephone: 33 (1) 48 07 29 10; fax: 33 (1) 47 00 79 77; e-mail: MFPFConf@aol.com or MFPDoc@aol.com.
|
Population (millions) |
58.8 |
|
Crude birth rate |
12 |
|
Total fertility rate |
1.7 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method of contraception |
75 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern methods of contraception |
68 percent |
Germany
Germany lies in central Europe between the Netherlands and Poland. It has a temperate climate and many natural resources. It ranks third in the powerful economies of the world. The International Planned Parenthood country file on family planning is currently being updated.
|
Population (millions, 1996) |
83.5 |
|
Birth rate (1996) |
9.66 |
|
Total fertility rate (1996) |
9.3 |
Ghana
Ghana lies in western Africa between Cote d’Ivoire and Togo. It developed a population policy in 1969 designed to lower the high fertility level through voluntary use of modern contraceptive methods and also to reduce the high infant and maternal mortality rates and ensure a more balanced spatial development in all regions of the country. In 1994, the National Population Council was set up to apply a revised policy that included coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating all the population programs in the country and integrating a comprehensive program into the overall national development plan. It also aimed to eliminate female genital mutilation, Konte (whereby a girl-child is forced into marriage and released when pregnant), early pregnancy, and unhealthy or dangerous child delivery practices.
The nongovernmental organization working most closely with the government is the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana. It concentrates on reaching marginalized groups and encouraging male participation in the family planning programs.
|
Population (millions, 1996) |
17.7 |
|
Crude birth rate |
35 |
|
Total fertility rate |
4.59 |
Greece
Greece is located in southern Europe between Albania and Turkey. The government has no declared policy on family planning and provides no dedicated services. Contraceptives, however, are widely available, often without prescriptions, but the use of modern methods remains low. Abortion is legal on request in the first trimester and is widely practiced.
The Family Planning Association of Greece focuses on information and education, particularly aimed at young people. It collaborates with the government to create a network of research, studies, projects, and specific programs. It also has a youth group. Telephone: 30 (1) 38 37 592; fax: 30 (1) 38 06 390; email: eop-fpag@ath.forthnet.gr.
|
Population (millions) |
10.5 |
|
Crude birth rate |
10 |
|
Total fertility rate |
1.1 |
Guatemala
Guatemala is in Central America between Honduras and Belize. Guatemala’s 1986 constitution recognized the right of a couple to freely decide the number and spacing of their children.The Ministry of Health offers family planning services through government clinics, although there are periodic attacks by religious and anti-family planning groups.The Asociacion Pro-Bien-estar de la Familia de Guatemala offers family planning services in twenty-eight clinics throughout the country and works with 106 private physicians. It concentrates much of its effort in rural areas, running information and educational campaigns and family life education programs. Address: Apartado Postal 1004, Guatemala, 01001, Guatemala; telephone: 502 230 5488 or 502 251 3096; fax: 502 251 4017; e-mail: aprofam@ guate.net.
|
Population (millions) |
11.1 |
|
Crude birth rate |
39 |
|
Total fertility rate |
5.1 |
|
Women 15-49 using any method of contraception |
31 percent |
|
Women 15-49 using modern methods of contraception |
27 percent |
Hungary
Hungary is a landlocked country of central Europe east of Austria and west of Romania. The government supports family planning services through the national health service. However, there is inadequate nationwide sex education and inadequate services for young adults.Thus, women are still relying on abortion as a method of birth control. The Pro Familia Hungarian Scientific Society (HSS) focuses primarily on education and advocacy and running training courses on contraceptive methods and sexually transmitted diseases.Telephone: 36 (1) 316 55 17; fax: 36 (1) 316 55 17; telex: 224308 STATI H.
|
Population (millions) |
10.1 |
|
Crude birth rate |
10 |
|
Total fertility rate |
1.3 |
|
Women 15-49 using any method of contraception |
73 percent |
|
Women 15-49 using modern contraception |
68 percent |
India
India is the largest country in South Asia, stretching from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean. It is one of the most heavily populated countries in the world. The government supports a national family planning program including maternal and child health, family welfare, and nutrition. Sexually transmitted diseases are widespread.The average age for women to marry is twenty, and female infanticide is still extant.
The Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) has programs all over India, providing reproductive health services, a contraceptive retail sales program, and education on family planning and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. It even has women’s empowerment groups and income generation programs. Telephone: 91 (22) 202 9080 or 91 (22) 202 5174; fax: 91 (22) 202 9038/204 8513; cable: FAMPLAN BOMBAY; e-mail: fpai@glas-bm01.vsni.net.in; web: <http://www.fpaindia. com>.
|
Population (millions) |
988.7 |
|
Crude birth rate |
26 |
|
Total fertility rate |
3.5 |
|
Women 15-49 using any method of contraception |
41 percent |
|
Women 15-49 using modern methods of contraception |
36 percent |
Indonesia
Indonesia is an archipelago in Southeastern Asia between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Indonesia has the fourth highest population in the world and is the world’s largest archipelago. Of its 17,000 islands, 6,000 are populated, and the population is becoming increasingly urban. The government has a policy of improving the quality of life of the people, including decreasing mortality, improving the health of mothers and children, and decreasing the birth rate. Abortion, illegal but often performed, accounts for a large number of maternal deaths. Illiteracy, poverty, and differences in language, culture, and religion makes an effective family planning program difficult. The Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (IPPA) since 1957 has started several projects targeting young couples, sex workers, health of mothers and children, and dispensing contraceptive information. Address: PO Box 6017, 12120, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia; telephone: 62 (21) 720 7372 or 62 (21) 739 4123; fax: 62 (21) 739 4088; cable: IPPA JACAR-TA; e-mail: pkbinet@idola.net.id.
|
Population (millions) |
207.4 |
|
Crude birth rate |
24 |
|
Total fertility rate |
2.7 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method of contraception |
55 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern methods of contraception |
52 percent |
Iran
A Muslim country of Southwest Asia, Iran is between Iraq and Pakistan in the Middle East. After the revolution of 1979, Iran had government policies that improved primary health care but encouraged a rapidly growing population. Recognition of the problems connected with such an increase in population led to a change in government policy and consequently a dramatic drop in population growth. Abortion is illegal unless the mother’s life is in danger. Although sexual health issues for young people are not covered adequately, the Iranian government has set up a network of primary care facilities that provides free family planning. The government encourages a maximum of three children per family, three years between children, and pregnancy between ages eighteen and thirty-five. Families receive no additional health benefits for a fourth child, and men are encouraged to be sterilized. The Family Planning Association of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FPAIRI) complements the network of health care facilities by providing education, training, and research. Address of FPAIRI: PO Box 19395-3518, Tehran, 19119, Iran; telephone: 98 (21) 222 3944 or 98 (21) 222 1479; fax: 98 (21) 225 7746; e-mail: FPAIRI@ neda.net.
|
Population (millions) |
64.1 |
|
Crude birth rate |
19 |
|
Total fertility rate |
2.5 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method of contraception |
71 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern methods of contraception |
56 percent |
Iraq
An ancient country in southwestern Asia, Iraq has no official population policy, but it does have a pronatalist stance. Contraceptives, however, are freely given, and the government supports the Safe Motherhood Initiative. Since the Gulf War and the subsequent embargo, contraceptives and medical supplies have been inadequate, although the United Nations has given special permission to import some to the Iraq Family Planning Association (IFPA). This popular organization does its best to cope with the great shortage of funds and supplies, but mortality rates for infants and mothers has increased. The IFPA provides information and services through clinics of the Ministry of Health. Address: PO Box 6028, Al-Man-sour, Baghdad 12605, Iraq; telephone: 9964 (1) 422 9202; fax: 9964 (1) 477 4970; cable: ALMANSOUR BAGHDAD.
|
Population (millions) |
21.8 |
|
Crude birth rate |
38 |
|
Total fertility rate |
5.7 |
|
Women 15—49 using any method of contraception |
18 percent |
|
Women 15—49 using modern methods of contraception |
10 percent |
Italy
Italy, which includes the islands of Sardinia and Sicily, is a southern European country that juts south into the Mediterranean Sea. The government supportsfamily planning, and contraceptives and first-trimester abortions are readily available. Many citizens in this Roman Catholic country, however, use only natural family planning, and there is some illegal abortion. The Unione Italiana Centri Educazione Matrimoniale e Prematrimoniale (UICEMP) provides information and training for health and social workers who staff the state family planning clinics and for other workers servicing young people. Address of UICEMP: Via Eugenio Chiesa I, Milan 20122; telephone: 0039/02/5456687; fax: 1139/ 02/5456687; e-mail: uicemp@tin.it.
|
Population (millions) |
57.7 |
|
Crude birth rate |
9 |
|
Total fertility rate |
1.2 |
Japan
An archipelago off the east coast of Asia, Japan is very much a first-world country. Pronatalist, it has no policy concerning population or family planning. Sex education and family planning have low priority in the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Most modern contraceptives have not been approved for use, although oral contraceptives are prescribed for some 200,000 women for “therapeutic” reasons. Abortion is legal and much used. Use of the condom is common. The Family Planning Federation of Japan is thus very important in educating family planning workers, in espousing reproductive health as human rights, in disseminating information about birth control and sexual health, and in lobbying officials.
|
Population (millions) |
126.4 |
|
Crude birth rate |
10 |
|
Total fertility rate |
1.4 |
|
Women 15-49 using any method of contraception |
64 percent |
|
Women 15-49 using modern methods of contraception |
57 percent |
Kazakhstan
Formerly a part of the Soviet Union, the Republic of Kazakhstan is in central Asia northwest of China. Its deserts, plains, and mountains are polluted with radioactivity and chemicals, but it has large untapped supplies of petroleum and minerals, and it has agricultural potential. It has no affiliation with International Planned Parenthood.
|
Population (millions, 1996 est.) |
16.9 |
|
Birth rate (1996 est.) |
19.02 |
|
Total fertility rate (1996 est.) |
2.36 |
Kenya
Kenya lies between Somalia and Tanzania in easter Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean. It has multipl large problems: deforestation, desert encroachment unsafe water, soil exhaustion. For humans, lif expectancy is under age fifty, infant and maternal mor tality rates are high, female genital mutilation is prac ticed among many of the thirty ethnic groups, an HIV/AIDS is prevalent. On the positive side, three quarters of people over fifteen are literate, and th government, through the Ministry of Health, is coop erating with various nongovernmental organizations i the area that are trying to alleviate these problems.
The Family Planning Association of Kenya (FPAK supplements the work of the Ministry of Health an other nongovernmental organizations by providin affordable, accessible family planning and reproduc tive health information. It has many special program for youth and for men. Address of FPAK: PO Bo: 30581, Nairobi, Kenya; telephone: 25 (2) 215 676 fax: 254 (2) 213 757; cable: FAMPLAN; e-mail fpak@ken.healthnet.org.
|
Population (millions) |
28.3 |
|
Crude birth rate |
33 |
|
Total fertility rate |
4.5 |
|
Women 15-49 using any method of contraception |
33 percent |
|
Women 15-49 using modern methods of contraception |
27 percent |
Korea, North (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea)
Lying in the northern part of the Korean peninsula in east Asia, North Korea was hit by a series of natural disasters in the 1990s that seriously affected the food supply, and consequently famine relief has impeded the plans and good intentions of the national health care system. Abortion is legal, and hospitals and clinics all over the country give free family planning advice, but lack of effective transportation and communication affects accessibility. A further problem is a lack of trained personnel. The Family Planning and Maternal and Child Health Association (KFP and MCHA) is active. It tries to reach people in the largemountainous mining areas. Address of KFP and MCHA: Puksong-2-Dong, Pyonchon District, Pyongyang City, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; telephone: 850 (2) 422 3450; fax: 850 (2) 381 4660; telex: 37001 Bogen KP; cable: POP CENTRE, PYONG YANG.
|
Population (millions) |
22.2 |
|
Crude birth rate |
18 |
|
Total fertility rate |
1.9 |
Korea, South (Republic of Korea)
Lying on the south end of the Korean peninsula in east Asia, South Korea is a densely populated, largely urban country. It has achieved its demographic growth target of 1 percent and is now looking at the issues arising from urbanization and from an aging population. Continuing problems are the preference for male children that results in abortions of female fetuses and reaching the people who live in relatively inaccessible remote islands. The Planned Parenthood Federation of Korea (PPFK) is one of three active groups that provide good family planning information and services. Address of PPFK: Youngdeungpo PO Box 330, Seoul, 150-650, Republic of Korea; telephone: 82 (2) 634 8211; fax: 82 (2) 671 8212; email: ppfk@unitel.co.kr.
|
Population (millions) |
46.1 |
|
Crude birth rate |
15.1 |
|
Total fertility rate |
1.6 |
|
Women 15-49 using any method of contraception |
80.5 percent |
|
Women 15-49 using modern methods of contraception |
70.0 percent |
Madagascar
An island country of southern Africa, east of Mozambique, Madagascar is one of the poorest nations of the world. Most of the agrarian populace has no access to potable water. Their love of children and their belief that infertility is a curse contribute to the 3 percent growth rate. The Ministry of Health is integrating family planning into its many nationwide health centers, which also provide basic education about hydra-tion, vaccination, and nutrition.The National Population Policy seems to be getting the better of the 1920 anticontraception law of this pronatalist county.
The Fianakaviana Sambatra (FISA) promulgates family planning as a human right. It has targeted underserved groups and tried through education to promote community involvement. It is also creating an effective management information system. FISA address: BP 703, 101, Antananarivo, Madagascar; telephone: 261 (20) 224 0347 or 224 1812; fax: 261 (20) 224 1813; telex: 22445 FPAFS MG; e-mail: fisa@simicro.mg.
|
Population (millions) |
14 |
|
Crude birth rate |
44 |
|
Total fertility rate |
6 |
|
Women 15-49 using any method of contraception |
19 percent |
|
Women 15-49 using modern methods of contraception |
10 percent |
Malaysia
Malaysia consists of the north third of the island of Borneo and the north part of the peninsula it shares with Indonesia in Southeast Asia. Malays, Chinese, and Indians have lived together for centuries in this wet, tropical land. The government has forged detailed family planning policies that are supposed to slowly lower the fertility rate. The Ministry of Health and the National Population and Family Development Board (NPFDB) operate clinics for women and children and offer gynecological services in the main centers of the country. Services are limited in the remote, mountainous areas of the country. The Federation of Family Planning Associations of Malaysia (FFPAM) is one of the effective agencies in providing family planning services to Malaysians. It has targeted specific groups, such as youth in particular areas and the Malaysian aborigine village of Kampung Tisong. Address of FFPAM: 81-Bjalan 55 15/5A, Subang Jaya, 47500 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia; telephone: 60 (3) 733 7516, 733 7528, or 733 7514; fax: 60 (3) 734 6638; e-mail: ffpam@po.jaring.my; web: <http://www.ffpam.org.my>.
|
Population (millions) |
22.2 |
|
Crude birth rate |
26 |
|
Total fertility rate |
3.2 |
|
Women 15-49 using any kind of contraception |
48 percent |
|
Women 15-49 using modern methods of contraception |
31 percent |
Mali
A poor, landlocked country in the middle of central Africa, Mali is desert in the north, grasslands in the center, and humid agricultural land in the south. More than half the people are under twenty, and about 10 percent are nomads. Women, who have low status in this pronatalist country, marry early and have many children. The government has set national health policies regarding women, education, and the environment. The Association Mali-enne pour la Promotion et la Protection de la Famille (AMPPF) supports the government in family planning issues, providing education and clinical service in local communities. It has ambitious plans for distributing contraceptives and recruiting workers. Address of AMPPF: BP 105, Bamako, Mali; telephone: 223 22 4494; fax: 223 23 7755/22 2618; telex: 1201 (attn: AMPPF); e-mail: amppf@mal.healthnet.org.
|
Population (millions) |
10.1 |
|
Crude birth rate |
51 |
|
Total fertility rate |
6.7 |
|
Women 15-49 using any method of contraception |
7 percent |
|
Women 15-49 using modern methods of contraception |
5 percent |
Mexico
South of the United States on the North American continent, Mexico has a population that increases by 2.3 million people a year despite the fact that the country is gradually lowering its birth rate because of its national family planning program.The government works with various private organizations to provide the best services in Latin America, but only 30 percent of women in urban slums and rural areas use contraceptives, and young adolescents add 500,000 babies a year to the population. The economy cannot support such a large and growing population. Many people live at or below the poverty level. A functional, effective organization is Fun-dacion Mexicana para la Planeacion Familiar (MEX-FAM), which provides education and medical services in most of the thirty-two Mexican states. It focuses especially on providing services in rural areas and urban slums. One of its special programs is with male factory workers. Telephone of MEX-FAM: 52 (5) 573 7100, 573 7348, or 573 7070; fax: 52 (5) 573 2318 or 655 1265; e-mail: mexinfo@mexfam.org.mx; web: <http://www.mexfam.org. mx>.
|
Population (millions) |
97.5 |
|
Crude birth rate |
27 |
|
Total fertility rate |
3.1 |
|
Women 15-49 using any method of contraception |
65 percent |
|
Women 15-49 using modern methods of contraception |
56 percent |
Morocco
A country on the Mediterranean Sea next to Algeria in northern Africa, Morocco is an Arab country with a minority nomadic Berber population in the eastern mountains. Current population policies set up in 1966 support family planning and aim at reducing the birth rate. The Association Marocaine de Planification Familiale (AMPF) works with political and religious leaders to implement family planning policies. It provides services and education, often targeting rural areas. Improvement of the status of women is one of its goals. Address of AMPF: PO Box 1217, Rabat RP, Morocco; telephone: 212 (7) 20 362 or 21 224; fax: 212 (7) 20 362; cable: FAMPLAN RABAT.
|
Population (millions) |
27.7 |
|
Crude birth rate |
24 |
|
Total fertility rate |
3.3 |
|
Women 15-49 using any method of contraception |
50 percent |
|
Women 25-49 using modern methods of contraception |
42 percent |
Mozambique
Mozambique Lies on the Indian Ocean between Tanzania and South Africa. Its social and fiscal structure have been ruined by drought and a lengthy civil war, so the people lack safe water, access to health care, and education. The average life expectancy of these Bantu people is forty-four years. Traditional patterns of living trap women into multiple pregnancies. The Associa^ao Mo^ambicana para Desenvolvimento da Familia (AMODEFA) is a nongovernmental organization that cooperates with government and other nongovernmental organizations to increase the knowledge and availability of family planning. It has trained staff and volunteers who have fielded many special projects, such as home health care of people with HIV/AIDS and setting up a women’s education center. Address of AMODEFA: CP 1535, Maputo, Mozambique; telephone: 258 (1) 493 864; fax: 258 (1) 491 236; telex: 6239 MO; e-mail: amodefa@ zebra.uem.mz.
|
Population (millions) |
18.6 |
|
Crude birth rate |
41 |
|
Total fertility rate |
5.6 |
|
Women 15-49 using any method of contraception |
6 percent |
|
Women 15-49 using modern methods of contraception |
5 percent |
