Family Planning in Developing Countries

Family planning programs offer a range of contraceptive choices, information, and related health services to couples. Since their inception in the mid-1950s, family planning programs have contributed to large increases in the use of contraceptives in the developing world. This trend in turn has contributed to decreased fertility rates since the mid-1960s. Indeed, the success of these programs has been so sustained and widespread that, in many contexts, there is debate over whether they are still needed.

Our work on family planning has examined

• global demographic trends, the challenges they pose for developing countries, and the potential for family planning programs to address these challenges.
• family planning issues in specific locales (Egypt and sub-Saharan Africa [in preparation]).
• the effects of family planning on abortion.
• the origins of family planning programs in the developing world, the criticisms these programs have faced, and their evolution in response to valid criticisms and to lessons from research and program evaluations.

See publications on this topic.