가족계획(家族計劃) 및 출산력조사(出産力調査)의 변동추이(變動推移) = Changing Pattern of National Family Planning and Fertility Survey in Korea

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

There have been fourteen surveys on family planning and fertility, since the 1960s, for which the research and field implementation have been coordinated. The surveys focused on providing contraceptives in the 1960s; on fertility as a consequence of family planning in the 1970s, and on management and integration in the 1980s. The contents of these surveys reflected the major elements in the development of family planning projects: conceptualization and analytical diversification which were thereby made possible. In this way, the Korean experience presented an exemplary case in which state activity was firmly grounded upon sound research. The Korean case has been praised as one of the most successful in the world.
More specific characteristics of family planning research in the last three decades can be summarized as follows. In the 1960s, research was interested in respondents` contraception knowledge and practice rate and in the relationships between contraceptive knowledge and the practice rate. From the analysis of these relationships target groups were classified and project directions were established. That is, we recommended providing not fully analyzed.
Fourth, research report mostly covered the fertility and contraception practice rate trends only. They did not give much attention to the factors which affect fertility rate changes, contraceptive behavior, the induced abortion rate and attitudes toward children.
To sum up, family planning and fertility surveys in the last three decades reflected the situations, problems and goals in each period, but since the fertility level has reached a below-replacement level, it is the right time to think about changing family planning project goals from reducing the fertility rate to learning about the impact of a low fertility rate on the individual and the family system. To understand and solve problems in achieving self-regulation of birth, we should, education for those who did or did not practice contraception with no appropriate knowledge of contraception and services and providing continuous supervision for those practicing contraception with or without the appropriate knowledge. Major research emphasis in the 1970s and 1980s was measuring fertility and finding obstacles or problems to family planning projects. The results of each survey within the last two decades seemed useful in developing family planning project and establishing new directions, as practicing contraception, induced abortion and the phase of marital changes were analyzed as the main factors affecting the fertility decline. New research ideas are developed by analyzing present conditions and family planning project problems, but the new approaches were held within the project boundaries. Projects on urban poverty, the population education program, and sound policy implications of a low fertility rate were the main contents of the reports in 1970~1989.
Third, considering the comprehensive contents of questionnaires, data were not analyzed thoroughly. Especially, household members` characteristics and contraception/pregnancy histories were therefore, give priority to understanding and overcoming obstacles rather than just to reducing fertility.
To achieve this self-regulation specific problems should be considered. As induced abortion is found to be one of the major factors in reducing the fertility rate, we should consider preventing induced abortion through contraceptive education, continuous supervision of contraception services and reducing the side-effects of contraception. Second, considering the impact of a low fertility rate on women and the family, we should consider developing women`s roles, preventing and curing family problems and rationalizing family life. Finally, the government must support the pursuit of new family planning projects in accordance with social demand.