Fertility policies of Asian countries

This volume examines the policies relating to fertility control and promotion as in force in eleven countries in the Asian region Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Iran, Kuwait, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand.
The first chapter provides an overview of the dimensions of fertility control policies, with special reference to child survival, old age security, status of women and changes in the social structure and in policies. It provides a conceptual framework for an under standing of fertility policy issues on a holistic basis and emphasises the need for more broad-based policies which can expand the outreach of population control programmes. This is followed by eleven country studies which highlight the genesis and development, the weaknesses, merits, and required changes in the fertility control policies in each of the countries considered. The contributors deal with the relationship between fertility and other population parameters- e.g., family planning and mortality-as also the impact of high fertility on development and the quality of life in the respective countries.

The significance of this volume lies in the fact that it brings together, for the first time, scattered information concerning the population policies of major Asian countries, which are the pioneers in this field. The selection of the countries covered in this volume was governed by the type of policies adopted so as to present a representative sample of (a) successful programmes (b) those which face problems; and (c) those which are pro-natalist. The essays in this volume highlight the features both unique to and common among the policies pursued by these countries. This sharing of strategies and experiences is not just valuable for the countries concerned, but will interest population experts the world over.
This book will be of use to all those interested in population studies, social and preventive medicine, health and public administration, sociology, social work, demography and development studies. It will also be a valuable source of reference for policy-makers, planners and politicians.