birth control
The luxury of debate.

Stayton WR.

PIP: 3 aspects of China's population policy are discussed and contrasted to the U.S. debate on the morality of birth control and abortion. By the year 2000 China will add to its one billion population, a 1/4 of the current earth's population today, the present population of the U.S. if their growth rate remains the same; however, no destitution or starvation are found in China. Clearly the leaders of China must drastically reduce the population growth rate in the immediate future. Chinese law provides accessibility to birth control methods and abortions (free of charge) at most clinics and hospitals throughout the country. Family planning is one of the most ambitious projects being undertaken by the government. Chinese children are loved, wanted, and well-cared for. Family life is central to life. In conclusion, the debate and legislation in the U.S. against birth control and abortion procedures is considered detrimental to the U.S. and will irresponsibly weaken the strengths found in U.S. family life.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12337665&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
[Ministry of Justice issues circular on sanctions against people who sabotage birth control plans by removing women's intrauterine contraceptive devices]

[No authors listed]

The relevant document recently issued by the Ministry of Justice pointed out that to protect women's lives and health and to facilitate birth control, severe punishments should be meted out in accordance with the relevant provisions of the criminal law to those who are guilty of the wicked practice of removing women's intrauterine contraceptive devices to defraud money and belongings, bringing about serious consequences as a result. Recently, the Ministry of Justice received a letter from the birth control office in Fuling Prefecture, Sichuan Province, reporting repeated instances in the prefecture of some people sabotaging the birth control plan by illegally removing women's intrauterine contraceptive devices to defraud the women of their money and belongings, and some women had even died as a result. The letter appealed to the judicial organs to ban these activities. In its document in answer to the letter, the Ministry of Justice pointed out, that out of greed for pecuniary and material gains, some people illicitly made iron wire hooks to remove women's intrauterine contraceptive devices, and serious consequences and even deaths have occurred. These activites have not only seriously sabotaged the birth control plan, but also constituted criminal offenses of fraud, unpremeditated injury, and manslaughter in violation of the criminal law. It called on the judicial departments throughout the country to punish the offenders according to the laws. The document also pointed out that some comrades called the illegal activities of illicitly removing women's intrauterine contraceptive devices "inappropriate removal of intrauterine rings," or said that "there are no concrete provisions about it in the laws," the result being that criminals have been allowed to go scot-free. To protect women's lives and health and to facilitate birth control, the judicial organs at all levels should coordinate with the departments concerned to ban such illegal activities and to carry out large-scale education among the masses. Severe judicial punishments should be meted out in accordance with the relevant provisions of the criminal law to those guilty of the illegal and wicked practice of removing women's intrauterine contraceptive devices to defraud money and belongings, bringing about serious consequences as a result. full text

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12338052&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
[Guangdong Prefecture's birth control efforts cited]

Beijing Xinhua Domestic Service.

PIP: Huiyang Prefecture in Guangdong Province (China) has rapidly lowered its population growth through patient and meticulous ideological effort among the masses. Compared with the same period last year, the prefecture's population growth and birth rate from January to August this year dropped by 0.55 and 0.9%, respectively. Due to failures in effectively implementing the family planning policies, the prefecture's once decreasing population rapidly increased in recent years. In some counties and communes, several children were born to over 30% of married couples. The ideological effort included persuasion and education to publicize the advantages of family planning and to ensure that birth control measures were effectively followed. In about 1 month, the cadres visiting Dongguan County persuaded over 27,000 people to be sterilized. The experience of Huiyang Prefecture shows that by linking family planning with state, collective, and individual interests as well as by relying on ideological efforts, the masses can be educated to voluntarily practice birth control. The Guangdong provincial people's government recently held a meeting in Huiyang Prefecture to propagate the prefecture's experience. The point was strongly made at the meeting that all localities must unify their understanding, intensify their leadership, and perform penetrating political and ideological work in order to reduce the province's population growth.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12338058&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
[Guizhou officials punished for ignoring birth control regulations]

[No authors listed]

PIP: The Guizhou provincial party committee recently distributed a province wide circular concerning the refusal of Comrades Zeng Yixiang and Pan Delin to practice birth control. The circular demanded that party committees at all levels carry out planned parenthood work as efficiently as they carry on economic construction. The circular indicated that those who refuse to practice birth control should be severely punished in accordance with the regulations concerned. Zeng Yixian is a member of the Standing Committee of the Xingren County party committee and 1st secretary of the Baling District party committee. When his wife was pregnant with their 6th child, the chief responsible comrades of the Xinyi prefectural party committee and Xinren County party committee advised that his wife should have an abortion. Comrade Zeng Yixiang refused to follow the repeated advice. His wife gave birth to her 6th child last May, and this had an adverse effect on the masses. Zeng Yixiang's punishment was that his appointment as county deputy party secretary was cancelled, and a notice was circulated throughout the prefecture regarding his mistake. Pan Delin is deputy chief of the organizational department of the Anshun prefectural party committee. When his wife was pregnant with their 3rd child, responsible comrades advised an abortion. Pan Delin failed to follow the advice, and his 3rd child was born last June. His behavior also has had adverse effects on the masses. Subsequently, 5% was deducted from the salaries of Pan Delin and his wife, and they were ordered to write self criticisms for the party organization. The circular of the Guizhou provincial party committee pointed out that it is a permanent policy of the party and state to pursue planned parenthood and control population growth.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12338063&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
[Guizhou officials punished for birth control failures]

[No authors listed]

More than 100 party and municipal officials in a Guizhou Province city underwent castration to take the blame for their laxity in enforcing birth control. According to the Guizhou Daily dated June 22 reaching here Wednesday, party officials at Zhijin City who were supposed to see that couples were not to have more than 1 child failed to enforce this limit and consequently the rate of natural population increase in the area had become the highest in the province. When the provincial government criticized the officials, they hastily conducted self-criticism and more than 100 of them underwent vasectomy or tubal ligation in May, the paper said. The mass sterilization prompted more than 1700 married people to undergo similar surgery in a span of only 40 days, according to the Guizhou Daily. The strict birth control measures enforced by the Chinese Government have caused some resentment among the farmers. Recently, a group of farmers attacked a party official who tried to force a pregnant woman to undergo abortion, seriously injuring him. A man divorced his wife because she chose abortion against his wish. full text

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12338074&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
The adolescent and contraception.

Bonar RW, Mcculla D.

PIP: Coital activity is often initiated during adolescence, and adolescents, like many adults, do not behave in purely rational ways and frequently fail to protect themselves against undesired pregnancy. Public attention is focused on adolescent pregnancies because of their increasing number and because the consequences are usually catastrophic. Unplanned pregnancies can have physical, psychosocial, and prenatal effects. It is important from both the individual and societal perspective that high priority be given to the task of preventing adolescent pregnancy. The health care provider, to gain the trust of the adolescent, must be open, honest, and willing to consider the young person's feelings and motivations. In addition to historical data and physical examination, the choice of a contraceptive method is based on individual preferences involving personal, familial, religious, and societal beliefs as well as sexual practice. A decision involving birth control for the adolescent can be complicated by parental influence and involvement. The teenage years are frequently a time of embarrassment about the physical maturation and biological functioning of the body. Birth control methods which require a person to touch himself/herself or to be used at the time of sexual intercourse may be unacceptable to the teenager. Fertility awareness techniques, such as basal body temperature, rhythm, and cervical mucus methods are inexpensive but call for a high degree of personal motivation. The use of a diaphragm requires an office visit and a pelvic examination for fitting and prescription. Contraceptive foam, suppositories, and condoms can be easily obtained over-the-counter for a minimal cost, and a moderate degree of personal motivation is needed for their effective use. Though effective, abortions should not be recommended indiscriminately. Permanent contraceptive methods are not recommended for the adolescent. The IUD and oral contraceptives (OCs) are recommended for adolescents who are unwilling to touch themselves or who desire a birth control method which can be used apart from the act of sexual intercourse. Both are highly effective, but there are important factors to consider in their prescription. Both methods require an initial office visit and pelvic examination and an additional procedure for the insertion of the IUD. Follow-up visits are essential and a prescription is necessary for the OCs. Cost can be prohibitive for the adolescent. Both have possible side effects contributing to mild to major discomfort.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12338160&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Birth control practice in Khartoum.

Khalifa M.

The results presented here are based on a fertility survey carried out in Khartoum in 1978. It was shown that the knowledge of family planning is widespread in the city and that the level of ever-use of birth control is becoming significant. The popularity of the different methods of birth control is investigated, revealing that the pill is used by nearly all ever-users. IUDs, rhythm, and withdrawal are also relatively popular. A great degree of consistency was found to exist between reports given by husbands and their wives in this respect. The purpose of using birth control is not yet clear. The significant ever-use, noted before the 3rd live birth, indicates that these methods are used for the purpose of spacing births rather than limiting the number of children.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12338161&dopt=Abstract birth control