Participación del sector salud en la política de población : Discusiones técnicas

Abstract

Certain countries in Latin America have established a policy for reducing population growth and others are about to take a decision one way or the other on this important matter. Consequently it is important to delimit the participation of the health sector in the population policy freely established by the Governments. Three principles are basic to the development of that participation: (1) the couple must be absolsutely free to request advice and to apply it in planning the number of children they wish; (2) the government must decide on the kind and type of information that will be made available when advice is requested as well as the facilities for applying it; (3) family planning, in accordance with the resolutions of WHO and PAHO, must be organized as an integral part of health services, in particular maternal and child health services

The specific content of the program in countries which have established population policies will vary according to time, place, and population. As a rule, a broad policy has three major components: services, education, and research

When the population policy of a government so indicates, the educational activities that form part of a maternal and child health program and family planning program can be aimed at the community as a whole. Nevertheless, the Declaration of the Presidents of the Americas designated the family as the focal point on which all ...(AU)