Coverage of Family Welfare Programme through press: a content analysis.

PIP: The role of newspapers in bringing about societal awareness of issues is discussed and the importance of gaining the interest and sympathy of the press for the Family Welfare Programme is emphasized. Press interest can be assessed by analyzing the content of newspapers. A method for such an assessment is presented in the hope that regular analysis with feedback to the press will keep their interest in the Programme alive. 2 newspapers were analyzed for content related to Family Welfare in 31 issues during May 1978. The news was then classified by size of area it pertained to, type and display of news, whether or not it favored the government, involvement of persons in the family planning program and source of information. A flow chart which shows the methodology of this analysis is given. Another chart shows the percentage distribution of space covered by the above categories of news in the 2 papers. Some of the main findings of the analysis are: 1) both papers paid lowest attention to international events in comparison to State and National events; 2) in both papers, news with comments covered more space than did factual news.^ieng

Decision for third child.

PIP: An investigation was conducted in an effort to determine how parents make the decision to have a 3rd child. The data were collected in 2 stages from 80 couples who resided in a village in Uttar Pradesh (India). Of the 80 couples interviewed, both partners of 61 couples desired a 3rd child. 15 couples did not want a 3rd child. Among the remaining 4 couples, only the wife wanted a 3rd child. The question concerning reasons for wanting or not wanting a 3rd child were asked only of those couples who had actually planned for a 3rd child as well as of couples who did not want a 3rd child at all. The most important motive for wanting a 3rd child, among both husbands and wives, was to provide more security for their old age. Husbands and wives were significantly different in attaching the 2nd and 3rd level of importance to motives for wanting a child. Wanting a boy or wanting another boy and wanting a girl or wanting another girl were ranked 2nd and 3rd by husbands. These motives were ranked 7th and 8th by wives. This finding revealed that sex preference was also an important determinant of an increase in family size. Motives for wanting a 3rd child ranked at the 2nd and 3rd levels by wives were a religious duty to have children and a special feeling of love between parents and child. Husbands and wives did not wan 3rd child because of an anticipated financial burden and the concern that they would not be able to give sufficient attention and care to their other children.^ieng

Effectiveness of auxiliary nurse midwife in delivering MCH service.

PIP: In analysis of the integrated program of the Maternal Child Health Program the need for protection against disease and pre and post-natal care were highlighted. The data analysed came from the district of Sultanpar in Uttar Pradesh, India. The reference period was from 1st April 1976 to 15th January 1978. The Auxiliary Nurse Midwife is expected to provide services for about 5 villages, with the help of trained dais (midwives). In order to assess program effectiveness data was collected from cards kept on mothers and infants by the ANM. It was found that 70% of births were not registered by the ANM and so did not receive MCH services; the majority of deliveries were still conducted by untrained dais, not the ANM. Though the ante-natal immunization for tetanus and Folic Acid tablets against anemia are a very important aspect of maternal-child services the majority of women were not so protected. Very few children received Diptheria, Polio, Tetanus immunization. This may be due to the reluctance on the part of the parents to immunize their children in the 1st year of life. It is also stated that the stress on acceptance of family planning may be to the detriment of the MCH programs. It is suggested that the trained dai work closely with the ANM. The medical training officer of the primary health center should work out the most effective approach for such cooperation. Strict and careful supervision would also be effective. The tetanus toxoid immunization should be streamlined for maximum coverage. Awareness of the necessity of immunization should be created through media and publicity programs.^ieng

Family planning practice among primary school teachers and their perception of children.

PIP: Valuation of children determines a couple's motivation to practice family planning. This study attempts to associate differing perceptions of the value of children with different motivations for family planning. The sample consisted of 70 teachers, 7 chosen randomly from each of 10 randomly-selected schools in west Delhi. The teachers were classified as motivated, ambivalent or unmotivated with regard to family planning on the basis of a questionnaire asking whether they endorsed certain motives for having children or for preventing births. To assess their valuation of children, the teachers were asked to rank pairs of 12 items relating to the value of children. Frequency distribution tables were constructed for each value item and each teacher. Mean proportions were compiled. From the individual scores on each item for each teacher, average scores for teachers in each motivation category were obtained. The reuslts of the study are represented in tabular form. Financial burden and restricted parental time were important considerations to the motivated group. The unmotivated group valued children particularly to strengthen the bond between husband and wife and to provide parental satisfaction. The valuation of children by the ambivalent group was mixed. The article concludes that the different motivational groups value children particularly to strengthen the bond between husband and wife and to provide parental satisfaction. The valuation of children by the ambivalent group was mixed. The article concludes that the different motivational groups value children differntly and that the valuation of children of the ambivalent and unmotivated groups needs to be altered by education in order to motivate them to practice family planning.^ieng