Social and cultural aspects of family planning programmes
Frankel, S.
Papua and New Guinea Medical Journal 28(3): 155-162
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-1480 PMID: 3866442 Document Number: 266917
The article outlines the family planning programme in Tari from an anthropological perspective, based on data collected during July 1981-June 1982. Family planning advice is disseminated largely by the Health Department, although there is some contribution from the Catholic Mission. Methods currently available through the Department's health subcentres and aid-post orderlies include the contraceptive pill, Depo-provera injections, IUDs and tubal litigation. Contraception was only used by 0.4% of the population at risk. Of those using contraception, 58% were on the pill and 42% were on Depo-provera. Men were often against the use of contraception because it interfered with their control over their wives' fertility and sexual behaviour. The couples who use contraception tend to be more sophisticated, with a large number from wage earning families. A family planning clinic was run in Tari during 1976-81 but was closed due to staffing problems.