MATERNITY CARE AND FAMILY PLANNING AS A WORLD PROGRAM

Family planning programs which are developed in association with maternity services are effective because of the vulnerability of the women to contraceptive suggestion immediately after delivery. A survey of 29 countries shows that about 1/3 of the women are delivered in hospitals or under hospital supervision. This should be the target group for postpartum family planning services. The problems of setting up such a system on a world-wide basis include establishing area maternity health centers; adequate recording systems; financial outlay, and the training and recruitment of adequate health center personnel.