Family planning knowledge, attitudes, and practice in Malaya

Abstract

Several policy decisions can be drawn from the brief discussion presented in this paper. First, knowledge of birth control was rather meager among the uneducated, the poor, and the rural folk, and therefore family planning education should be encouraged and intensified to impart this basic knowledge to these categories of women in particular. Second, there was overwhelming approval of the idea of family planning as well as ardent interest in learning more about it among women in all socio-economic strata. This means that immediate implementation of family planning practice is more urgent and necessary than pursuasion to the idea itself. Vital prerequisite attitudes favorable to the initiation of a nation-wide action program are already in existence. Third, the use of birth control was very limited, but there is widespread desire on the part of married women to limit their family size. It is thus the duty of the Board and the F.P.A. to satisfy their needs by providing adequate family planning services, which should preferably be offered on a priority basis so that those who require them most are provided service first. © 1968 Population Association of America.