A family planning program based on maternal and child health services

Abstract

A brief summary of various aspects of the lives of people living in the rural areas of developing countries introduces this article. From these a few of the problems faced in efforts to improve maternal and child health and to affect population in countries with birth rates of 40 or more per 1,000 become apparent. A plan for promoting family planning based upon integration of such services with existing and improved maternal and child health organization is described. The first four years of effort toward the planning and implementation of a series of four to six trial projects situated in various parts of the world are described. The first statistical data on results will not be available for a year or two and final figures not for 6 years or more. Nevertheless the progress of this program, even through its developing stages, should be a matter of interest and importance. The rapid increase in the world's population is a major concern and problem. People may contribute toward the solution of this problem according to their particular knowledge and skills. For the gynecologist-obstetrician the type of program here described presents a special opportunity and responsibility.