ECAFE: Working Group on Communications Aspects of Family Planning Programs

Abstract

A summary of the report of a meeting of the Working Group on Communications Aspects of Family Planning Programs held in Singapore September 5-15 1967 is presented. 20 participants came from 13 member countries of the U.N. Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE). There is discussion of the current status of communications aspects of family planning in the following countries: Ceylon China (Taiwan) Hong Kong India Indonesia Iran Japan Korea Malaysia Pakistan the Philippines Singapore and Thailand. Both informal and formal communications are used and 2 of the most important objectives of the communications are to legitimize contraception and reinforce new knowledge and attitudes. Besides users of the program communications should be addressed to decision leaders special groups staff personnel of agencies professionals and educators. Indirect and direct media use is appropriate but a professional staff is necessary. Recruitment must be handled by fast-moving administrative machinery. Research and evaluation of the progress of communications efforts is important and the unit for that purpose needs a separate division.