[Psychological aspects of family planning]

In spite of the great impact on the public opinion produced by the diffusion of the threats on humanity derived from the so-called "demographic explosion", many factors prevail upon the acceptance or rejection of family planning. For instance, developed countries and privileged classes have been accused of promoting campaigns tending to limit the development of the destitute sections of the population, fearing to be overwhelmed by their disproportionate growth. At another level, certain male groups consider the advent of modern contraceptive procedures as a menace to the preponderance of man over woman if she is allowed sexual intercourse free from unwanted pregnancies. Still other groups, with or without religious influences, contend against any interference with nature, in spite of the fact that "demographic explosion" is precisely the result of modern medicine which has actually interfered to a great extent on it. The emotional nature of these attitudes, frequently obscures many other psychological factors strange to any demographic consideration, but show a striking influence on family planning, especially on the use of different contraceptive procedures. In the present paper, two main groups are considered: a) psychological factors leading to parents wishing or not to have descendants. b) psychological factors and attitudes associated with contraception. Finally, considerations are made on the rejection of the unwanted child and on abortion. Both of these problems have deep psychosocial implications where family planning may play a preventive role of tremendous transcendency.