Title: Government sterilization services acceptors' characteristics and its demographic impact.

POPLINE Document Number: 266708

Author(s):

Cho NH
Koh KS

Source citation:

In: National Conference on Voluntary Sterilization, 3rd, Seoul, Korea, Sept. 24, 1982. Voluntary sterilization. [Seoul, Korea] Korean Association for Voluntary Sterilization [1983]. :17-27.

Abstract:

Since the inception of a family planning program in 1962, the national program has played a part in both the reduction of the fertility rate and the wide spread use of contraception. The population census indicated that the total fertility rate of women aged 15-44 declined from 6.0 to 2.7 in 1982, and that the family planning practice rate increased from 9% in 1964 to 57.7% in 1982. During the last 2 decades, 11.7 million acceptors have received contraceptive services under the national program. The IUD has been the principal method since 1976, at which time the female sterilization program was introduced. Considering the popularity of female laparoscopic sterilization since 1976, the government has emphasized sterilization and deemphasized other methods since 1977. The use of the IUDs, pills, and condoms have declined while there has been a sharp increase in female sterilization. Between 1962 and 1981, a total of 1,478,000 acceptors, which consist of 501,300 vasectomy procedures and 977,500 tubectomy procedures, have received sterilization services through the government program. Comparing the practice rate between 1979 and 1982, the rate of female sterilization increased drastically from 14.5% in 1979 to 23.0% in 1982 while the practice rates for IUD, vasectomy, pill methods have declined. Of the total practice rate of 57.7%, the proportion of vasectomy users was 51.1% in 1982. According to acceptors' coupon data, the women's age of vasectomy and tubectomy acceptors fell steadily to 31.1 and 31.9 in 1981 respectively, and the number of children went down to 2.5 and 3.2 in the same year. However, the demographic characteristics of sterilization acceptors are far from adequate to attain the government's new population goal of replacement level fertility by the year 1988. The Standard Couple Years of Protection (SCYP) was used to compute the number of births averted by government sterilization programs. The results showed that: the total number of births averted between 1962 and 1981 is estimated at 902,778 during the period of 1962 through 2005. The coefficient of birth prevention, which is the ratio of the number of births averted to the number of acceptors, is estimated to be .7 for vasectomy and .6 for female sterilization during 1962 through 2005. At the same time, a total of 1,820,300 induced abortions will be prevented during 1962-2011 through the sterilizations provided during 1962 to approximately 1981. Of the total number of abortions prevented, 507,386 were made possible by the vasectomy program, and 1,312,914 abortions were prevented by the female sterilization program. The coefficient of abortion prevention is estimated to be 1:2 for sterilization. The programs have greatly contributed to the improvement of maternal health through prevention of induced abortion as well as reduction in fertility rate of the married women. There is a strong need for the national program to recruit more sterilization acceptors in their 20s in order to continue the high acceptance of sterilization. Innovative social support policy measures to encourage smaller families and reduce sex preference should be supported. (author's modified)

Keywords:

Government Programs
Demographic Impact
National Health Services
Family Planning Acceptor Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Family Planning Programs
Family Planning
Population Policy
Family Planning Policy
Korea
Contraceptive Usage
Contraceptive Methods Chosen
Conferences and Congresses
Changes
Fertility Rate
Age Factors
IUD
Laparoscopy
Oral Contraceptives
Vasectomy
Tubal Occlusion
Chemosterilants
Comparative Studies
Births Averted
Abortion
Maternal Health
Family Size, Ideal
Condom
Programs
Organization and Administration
Population Dynamics
Population
Health Services
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Family Planning Acceptors
Social Policy
Policy
Contraception
Social Change
Birth Rate
Fertility Measurements
Fertility
Population Characteristics
Contraceptive Methods
Endoscopy
Physical Examinations and Diagnoses
Examinations and Diagnoses
Male Sterilization
Sterilization, Sexual
Female Sterilization
Studies
Research Methodology
Family Planning Program Evaluation
Fertility Control, Postconception
Family Size
Family Characteristics
Family and Household
Barrier Methods