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  • Title: Latin America and the Caribbean assessment.
    Author: Viel B.
    Journal: Draper Fund Rep; 1984 Jun; (13):23-5. PubMed ID: 12339635.
    Abstract:
    The "Alliance for Progress," an inter-American program of economic assistance launched in 1961, was doomed to failure because th subject of family planning was deemed to be too politically dangerous to be discussed by Latin American governments in an international forum and was omitted. It was fortunate that during the 1960s a number of Latin American governments began to act on the recommendations of private groups who were calling attention to the fact that population growth was outpacing the provision of food, sanitation facilities, housing, and, particularly, employment opportunities. A few governments accepted the necessity of including contraceptive services in their maternal/child health care programs. Chile and Colombia, leaders among these countries, have since experienced significant drops in birthrates. There is ample evidence to suggest that this has been a major factor in the favorable declines in their infant mortality rates. By the 1970s a significant number of countries supported family planning programs. Currently, the Cuban and Mexican programs are among the most successful, as are those of Barbados, the Netherlands Antilles, and other islands of the Caribbean region. A few governments are still swayed by pronatalist forces, and where family planning services are provided only on a private scale, which is necessarily limited, birthrate declines are not as successful. Current projections indicate a moderate decline in the rate of population growth after 1980, but the number of people added each year will continue to increase. By the year 2000, Latin America will be faced with a total population of 562 million. A UN study shows that severe undernutrition affects from 3% to over 40% of Latin American children under 5 years of age, yet by 2000 almost 200 million more people will have to be fed. Latin America is already being forced to import food. The World Health Organization (WHO) promotes "Health for All by the Year 2000," but a campaign for good health cannot succeed until family planning services are adequate and easily available. All governments must realize how important family planning is to the promotion of family health. The decline in fertility over the next 20 years will be greatest in countries that have government supported family planning programs, particularly long established programs. Even in those countries, government efforts are still insufficient, and unwanted children are born. Family planning education and services are not being made available to all who need them.
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