From birth control to reproductive health

Abstract

During the 1960s birth control was seen as the only means of curbing the very rapid population growth that resulted from decreased mortality without a parallel decrease in fertility. Birth control was considered such a priority that the means used to achieve it were not always respectful of human rights, and, for the same reason, it did not work as expected. During the 1970s and 1980s, birth control policy was re-evaluated. Concepts such as the need to balance birth control with socioeconomic development, to avoid target-oriented programs that imposed particular contraceptive methods on people, to integrate contraceptive services within a comprehensive women's health care program, and to emphasize the importance of quality of care became accepted. This led to the understanding that a reproductive health care approach was a more efficient way to achieve people's wellbeing and, at the same time, to reduce fertility. The need for greater dialog between women/clients and men/providers is emphasized.