Thailand's Reproductive Revolution

Abstract

An analysis of the remarkable changes in reproductive patterns underway in Thailand. use has gone up by almost 1 1/2 times (nearly 4 in 10 couples are now using a method); knowledge is close to universal; family size preferences are falling. The changes are most marked among Thailands overwhelmingly rural and poorly educated population. Thus the traditional urban-rural gap in fertility use and knowledge and family size preference is rapidly closing. Although there has been some social and economic improvement the slogan is the best contraceptive cannot explain the reproductive revolution that has occurred. Cultural factors may have played an important role: the relatively high status of Thai women and lack of a strong preference for sons as well as the nature of Thai Buddhism may have helped receptivity. The more rapid fertility decline in the Buddhist north than in the more Moslem south is evidence of cultural factors at work. However the development of a strong nationwide family planning program has had the most impact. The timing of the development of this program and of the rapid fertility decline correspond very closely -- especially in rural areas where the program has been concentrated. It provided services to some 2.6 million couples between 1968 and 1975. There has been a very high rate of continuation in the program and the substantial effect of improved use on fertility has been documented. The authors find a direct relationship between the extent of program activity (on 2 measures pill distribution and new acceptors) and use (as determined in the World Fertility Survey) and an inverse relationship between program activity measures and marital fertility (i.e. the greater the program effort the lower marital fertility).(AUTHOR ABSTRACT)