The striking upsurge in population growth rates in developing countries at the close of World War II gained force during the next decade. From the 1950s to the 1970s, scholars and advocacy groups publicized the trend and drew troubling conclusions about its economic and ecological implications. Private educational and philanthropic organizations, government, and international organizations joined in the struggle to reduce fertility. Three decades later this movement has seen changes beyond anyone's most optimistic dreams, and global demographic stabilization is expected in this century. The Global Family Planning Revolution preserves the remarkable record of this success. Its editors and authors offer more than a historical record. They disccuss important lessons for current and future initiatives of the international community. Some programs succeeded while others initially failed, and the analyses provide valuable guidance for emerging health-related policy objectives and responses to global challenges.

Contents: The World Demographic Situation; The Theory and Morality of International Population Policy; Population Change and Economic Development; The Transition in Reproductive Behavior in the Third World; Immigration and Demographic Change and Their Impacts on the Third World; International Population Policy: Choices for the United States; Bibliographies. (FR).

International Population Assistance: The First Decade provides a comprehensive account of the establishment, development and operation of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities. The title identifies the principles guides the Fund, traces the growth of the funds policies, and examines the future of the fund. The coverage of the text includes the topics such as education and communication, family planning, and funding population assistance. The selection also covers funds policies on data collection, international assistance, and following up on the fund's programs. The book will be of great interest to economists, sociologists, and political scientists.

This open access book provides an overview and analysis of the causes and consequences of the massive and highly consequential transition in reproductive behaviour that occurred in Asia, Latin America, and Africa since the mid-20th century. In the 1950s contraceptive use was rare and women typically spend most of their reproductive years bearing and rearing children. By 2020 fertility and contraceptive use in Asia and Latin America reached levels commonly observed in the developed world. Africa’s fertility is still high, but transitions have started in all countries. This monograph is the first to provide a comprehensive analysis of these trends and their determinants, covering changes in reproductive behaviour (e.g., use of contraception and abortion), preferences (e.g., desire to limit and space births) and the role of socioeconomic development (e.g., education). The role of government policies and in particular family planning programs is discussed in depth. Particular attention is given to provide a balanced assessment of several political and scientific controversies that have beset the field. As such this book provides an interesting read for a wide audience of undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and public health policy makers.