Family planning in a part-aboriginal community, 1970 to 1973.

Abstract

A family planning service was launched among Aboriginal women in Bourke Australia in 1970. Within a 33-month period 79 women or half of the child-bearing population was practicing some form of birth control and altogether 83 women and 2 men had consulted the family planning physician about birth control advice. Of the 79 women 24 had completed their families 13 were spacing births and 8 said they had to o many children. Of the 71 initial acceptors 50 (70.4%) have either continued with family planning practices or have returned to them. The most common side effects of the oral contraceptive pill was an increase in migraine (6 cases) weight gain (4 cases) and naseau (3 cases). Complaints about IUD side effects were rare. 2 women chose tubal ligations as a permanent method of birth control. Care must be taken to avoid the serious side effects of contraception in women who have a high prevalence of diabetes anemia and infection. It was observed that the birth rate had fallen from 71 per 1000 (1964-1971) to 35 per 1000 in 1972.