Third evaluation of the Thailand national family planning program

Findings from an evaluation of Thailand's National Family Planning Program (NFPP) are presented in this report. The NFPP has had the following significant impacts upon populaion growth: contraceptive use, especially of the pill, has increased substantially since the commencement of NFPP; fertility is decreasing faster in rural areas than in urban areas; the steady decline in the fertility rates since the mid-1960's has accelerated since NFPP began; and the population growth rate has decreased from 3.6% to 2.6% during 1960-75. Despite these achievements, Thailand still faces unmet FP needs in such subgroups as the hill tribes and Indo-Chinese refugees. Also included in this report are findings from the NFPP statistics system and from operational research studies in FP conducted in Thailand; information on the current status of specific NFPP program components such as information dissemination and education, manpower training, and contraceptive services; and a list of sources of support for NFPP. For the success of this program to continue, increased support is required from the Royal Thai Government (RTG) and international donors. Other recommendations arising from this evaluation include: (1) giving priority to geographic regions and subpopulations where FP acceptance is low; (2) emphasizing improved management and supervision at the village level; (3) including information about FP in health education programs; (4) giving all health education personnel formal training in rural health and FP delivery; (5) evaluating the impact of NFPP on health status, particularly with respect to maternal and infant mortality; (6) continuing pilot projects to determine the use of non-physician personnel in FP service delivery; and (7) continuing subsidy by RTG to health facilities for voluntary surgical sterilization. Consultation reports and technical appendices are attached.