KOREA/TAIWAN 1969: Report on the National Family Planning Programs

Abstract

An annual review of the achievements in family planning in South Korea and Taiwan is presented. In Korea 1969 closed with more contraceptive acceptors than in 1968 (623000 vs. 472000) but numbers of acceptors were still below program targets. As in the past the major handicap was a shortage of money to meet local costs rather than a lack of interested women. The population growth rate is difficult to measure accurately largely because of underregistration of births and deaths. As nearly as can be estimated it has dropped from 28/2000 in 1963 to 23/1000 in 1969. In Taiwan as in Korea family planning acceptors for 1969 outnumbered those for 1968. Taiwan however did not fare as well as Korea in recruiting new pill users. The items of major interest in Taiwan in 1969 are similar to those in 1968. The major change is that a lot more was done in 1969 and the birthrate fell to 27.7 from 29.3 in 1968. Even with a lower death rate (from 5.5 in 1968 to 5.0 in 1969) the natural increase rate dropped below 2.3%. The following major aspects of Taiwans family planning program are discussed: initial results of the official population policy; program reorganization; targets; infusion of more local funding; program evaluation and results; increased public information and education; and the establishment of the Chinese Center for International Training in Family Planning. The following aspects of Koreas family planning program are discussed: budget; interest and planning; the IUD pill vasectomy and condom programs; mothers clubs to promote family planning; evaluation; training; information and education; and the future. Some of the comparisons between the 2 countries indicate that: 1) Koreas family planning efforts are one-third greater than Taiwans; 2) pill and loop continuation rates are not getting higher; 3) Korea has 4 contraceptive methods (IUD pill condom and vasectomy) vs. 1 for Taiwan (loop); 4) Koreas pill program is 3 times as large as Taiwans and is accelerating; 5) Koreas cost per acceptor is higher; 6) Koreas field staff outnumbers Taiwans:; 7) both countries have been too slow in recruiting new field workers; and 8) Taiwan is orienting international trainees much better than Korea.