Main results of recent Hungarian family planning studies

The Hungarian Central Statistical Office has carried out five different sample surveys in the last fifteen years for investigating more closely questions of fertility, family planning and birth control. The study summarizes the main findings. Some of these surveys applied retrospective methods to investigate fertility, family planning and birth control bahaviour of females in the past. Surveys of another type tried to reveal in perspective manner, with longitudinal observation of the couples, changes which took place in family planning and birth control ideas and practice. The main purpose of recent population policy measures was to ensure simple reproduction of the population. As a result of the measures taken in 1974 to increase the number of births the birth-rate went up significantly. This increase (30% as compared to 1973) appeared primarily for the second birth which constitutes 62% of the increment in births in 1974, 31% is accounted for by an 11% increase in the first births. The number of third births rose by 13% and their relative share remained 10%. The number of fourthand further births did not increase and their relative share decreased by 1%. Fertility data of 1974 show that the birth-rate increase was not in line with the intended aim, i.e. it was not the number of third births that increased. The net reproduction coefficient showing long-range growth of the population calculated with birth-rate of 1974, has developed favourably, it was over unity for the first time since 1958 (it was about 1.05). The birth-rate increased in 1974 in every age-group of females. The largest increase (19%) occurred for females 25-34 years old. Though it was 16% also for females under 24. According to a sample survey investigating the number of intended children by married females under 35 it did not increase as compared to data of previous surveys of similiar character. The differences is that the proportion of those who wished to have two children increased, while of those who wished to have one or three and more children decreased. The study deals also with changes in the relative shares of intended children by females under 35 who are now to be married. In the concluding part of the study the femeles' attitude to birth control and changes in this field are discussed.