Survey report: Haiti.

PIP: Men, as well as women, were interviewed in the Haiti National Contraceptive Prevalence Survey (NCPS) in 1989. THe inclusion of males allowed the survey to: 1) attain information on fertility, contraceptive use and supply sources, method mix, and unplanned pregnancies; 2) explain the difference between the number used; 3) examine the role of men in family planning; and investigate barriers to contraceptive usage. The preliminary report of the survey found that the use of family planning among women in union (WIU) has gone up to 10%; use of traditional contraceptive methods is less than 1%. The pill is the most frequently used method (4% of all WIU); followed by female sterilization (2.5%), and the "injection" (16%). Less than 1% of WIU use condoms. Among men in union (MIU), 11% use family planning. Condoms are the most commonly used method (3.4% of MIU). Women may underreport condom use. MIU may report use of condoms with partners outside of their current union. Among all men, 8.5% use family planning; 6% of single men, mostly in urban areas, report using condoms. Most men say that they use condoms to prevent pregnancy; 13% use them for protection against sexually transmitted diseases, including the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Another 20% give both reasons. Among women and men in union who are using family planning, 2.3 gave reasons of infertility, sexual activity, or pregnancy. 37% of the nonusers are breastfeeding or pregnant; another 10% would like a pregnancy (18%); 16% of men believe their partner is menopausal. Among women who gave birth in the 5 years previous tot he survey, more than 2/3 has at least 1 antenatal care visit; 22% had more than 6 visits. 3 in 10 of these birth were not planned.^ieng

Survey report: El Salvador.

PIP: Among the recent studies documenting trends in fertility and contraceptive behavior in El Salvador is the 1988 Family Health Survey (FESAL88). Conducted by the Asociacion Demografica Salvadorena with technical assistance from the US Centers for Disease Control, Division of Reproductive Health, FESAL88 (between May-July 1988) interviewed a total of 3579 women, ages 15-44. Total fertility declined from 6.3 to 4.5 lifetime births/woman between 1978-85, but no significant change was found between 1985-88. Similarly, contraceptive use increased by 26 percentage points between 1975-88, with a slight increase occurring after 1985. Approximately 47% of married women use modern methods of family planning, with female sterilization used by 1/3 of all married women. About 1/2 the women currently not using family planning say they intend to do so, but only 1/2 of these women know where to obtain a method. Other determinants of fertility also showed little change between 1985-88. In these years, the average age of marriage rose from 19.8 to 20.3 years, but almost all of the increase occurred in urban areas. 95% of women interviewed breast fed their last child; the average duration of breast feeding was 17 months. In focusing on Salvadorian women 15-24 years of age, FESAL88 found that their fertility rate was 139 birth/1000 women, the highest rate for any country in Latin America or the Caribbean. 9 in 10 women age 15-24 think there should be special family planning services for young adults. Finally, among the married women who had a birth in the 5 years prior to the survey, 2/3 received a prenatal examination, and 2/3 received an antitetanus toxoid injection. Even though only 40% of married women with a new baby report receiving postnatal care, 76% of infants received well-baby care.^ieng