Skip to page content

Family Planning

An individual's or couple's decisions on when to have children or start a family may also have social and economic consequences on the community at large. RAND's family planning research spans various populations and socioeconomic backgrounds in Western as well as developing countries and addresses such topics as fertility and infertility, birth control, abortion, reproductive technologies, child welfare, household economic security, and community impact.

Journal Article

Journal Article

Fertility Behaviors in South Korea and Their Association with Ultrasound Prenatal Sex Screening

Using the 1985, 1995, and 2005 Korean Censuses, we find significant period effects suggesting that sex ratios at birth became unnaturally imbalanced when ultrasound technology became available..

Mar 14, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Fertility, Gender Preference, the Birth Planning Policy and Life Satisfaction in China

Investigation of Birth Planning Policy effect on parity-specific birth continuation probabilities and parental life satisfaction as a function of the numbers and gender composition of children both before and after the implementation of the BPP.

Mar 14, 2018
Research Brief

Evaluating Global Family Planning Programs

In 2013, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched two programs to help track progress toward a global goal to increase modern contraceptive use by 2020. Evaluating these programs, researchers found opportunities for improvement in four areas.

Feb 5, 2018
Report

Evaluation of Two Programs Supporting Global Family Planning Data Needs: Assessing Achievements, Informing Future Directions

This evaluation of two programs that help monitor progress toward a global goal to increase modern contraceptive use by 2020 is based on qualitative and quantitative data from interviews with more than 260 stakeholders in 16 countries.

Feb 5, 2018
Report

Evaluation of Two Programs Supporting Global Family Planning Data Needs: Summary

This report summarizes an evaluation of two programs that help monitor progress toward a global goal to increase modern contraceptive use by 2020.

Feb 5, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Safer Conception for Couples Affected by HIV: Structural and Cultural Considerations in the Delivery of Safer Conception Care in Uganda

Sociocultural and structural factors, such as a reluctance to discuss childbearing desires, can present barriers to the implementation of safer conception counseling for HIV-affected couples.

Aug 3, 2017
Journal Article

Engaging Human Rights in the Response to the Evolving Zika Virus Epidemic

Public health responses to the Zika virus that incorporate a human rights perspective have the potential to be more equitable, effective, and sustainable interventions.

Mar 16, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Prevalence and Correlates of Use of Safer Conception Methods in a Prospective Cohort of Ugandan HIV-affected Couples with Fertility Intentions

Among a sample of Ugandan couples with an HIV-positive partner who hope to conceive, about one-third used a "safer" conception method such as timed unprotected intercourse to reduce HIV transmission, but only about half were aware of such methods.

Mar 16, 2017
Commentary

The Economic Rationale for Investing in Family Planning in Sub-Saharan Africa

Proven benefits to reduced fertility — or to delayed start to childbearing and greater spacing between births — include lower maternal mortality, fewer unsafe abortions, reduced risks from early childbearing, and women's ability to engage in more income-generating opportunities.

Aug 3, 2016
Journal Article

Journal Article

Multi-level Correlates of Safer Conception Methods Awareness and Attitudes Among Ugandan HIV Clients with Fertility Intentions

We examined awareness and attitudes towards SCM, and the correlates of these constructs among 400 HIV clients with fertility intentions in Uganda.

Jun 5, 2016
Commentary

Policy Barriers to Best Practices in Women's Health

Long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods of birth control, which include the intrauterine device and subdermal implant, are highly effective, very safe, preferable to women, and cost effective. But some states' contraceptive policies create direct and indirect barriers to LARC use.

Nov 6, 2015
Journal Article

Journal Article

Benefits of PrEP as an Adjunctive Method of HIV Prevention During Attempted Conception Between HIV-uninfected Women and HIV-infected Male Partners

Data on effectiveness of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–uninfected women attempting conception with HIV-infected male partners are limited to observational studies.

Jul 8, 2015
Commentary

Family Planning Must Be Part of the Humanitarian Response in Africa's Conflict Zones

Worldwide, nearly 800 women die every day due to mostly preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. More than half of these deaths occur in fragile states torn by armed conflict and generalized violence.

Jul 1, 2015
Report

Evaluation of the Population and Poverty Research Initiative (PopPov)

This report evaluates the Population and Poverty Research Initiative (PopPov) and its progress in building economic demography, particularly policy-relevant research; policymakers’ understanding of issues; and research capacity in sub-Saharan Africa.

May 5, 2014
Commentary

Could Britain See a Baby Boom?

The royal birth comes at a time when fertility in Britain is increasing after decades of decline. Today, the U.K.'s total fertility rate, a proxy for the average number of children per women in a given year, is the third highest in Europe behind only France and Ireland.

Jul 31, 2013
Journal Article

Journal Article

Fertility Desires Among HIV-infected Men and Women in Los Angeles County: Client Needs and Provider Perspectives

Combination antiretroviral therapy for persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) has extended life expectancy, and enabled PLHA to live productive lives that can include having children.

May 1, 2013
Commentary

Can Catholic Colleges Block Free Condom Distribution?

If this issue were to be decided on the basis of public health benefits, the outcome would be clear: Condoms indisputably prevent both unintended pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted infections, writes Chloe Bird.

Apr 23, 2013
Journal Article

Journal Article

Fertility Desires and Intentions and the Relationship to Consistent Condom Use and Provider Communication Regarding Childbearing Among HIV Clients in Uganda

We examined the correlates of fertility desires and intentions among 767 HIV clients (34% male) starting antiretrovirals in Uganda.

Jan 1, 2013
Commentary

California Improves on Affordable Care Act by Letting RNs Dispense Birth Control

As we look for ways to provide efficient, high-quality and cost-effective healthcare to more Americans, states may study California as a potential model for how to do more to deliver on what the Affordable Care Act has to offer women, while saving money at the same time, writes Chloe Bird.

Oct 9, 2012
Commentary

Supporting Comprehensive Healthcare for Women Makes Dollars, and Sense

As we look for ways to provide efficient, high-quality, and cost-effective health care to more Americans, we can't afford to ignore women's health issues, including reproductive health care and the cost savings that contraceptive access provides, writes Chloe Bird.

Sep 5, 2012

1
2
3
4
5
Next

RAND Topic:
Family Planning

Research conducted by