The relative impacts of vertical and integrated FP/MCH programs in rural Nepal

The objectives of this analysis were to assess the probable impacts of vertical and integrated FP/MCH programs on family planning (knowledge, use, and intentions to use), family size preferences, fertility, and mortality (child and infant). The following discussion summarizes and draws conclusions regarding the results of this investigation. The vertical program showed a greater impact on knowledge of family planning than the integrated program. Increases in knowledge between 1975 and 1978 while controlling for social and demographic variables were greater in the vertical than the integrated areas. Multiple classification analysis at both household and village levels showed that the vertical program was a better predictor of knowledge and changes in knowledge than the integrated program. In addition, the vertical program showed consistently higher proportions of women with awareness of family planning among those segments of the population that could have the greatest impact on fertility reduction in the future--namely, the younger women who are either childless or just beginning their childbearing and those with husbands who have little or no education. Neither the vertical nor the integrated FP/MCH program showed an impact on current use or ever use of family planning. The very low levels and changes in levels of these factors between the programs showed almost no difference throughout the selected demographic and socioeconomic groups. In both program areas the proportions of ever use and current use increased substantially with the number of living sons, exceeding 14 percent and 10 percent, respectively, among women with three or more sons. There were virtually no family planning users or ever users among women with no sons. This appears to indicate that "son preference" (documented in the Nepal Fertility Survey) is an important factor affecting the incidence of family planning practice and may be a formidable obstacle to a substantial reduction in fertility. Family limitation generally may not be taken seriously until a couple has produced the desired number of sons. Hence, until the value of sons (perhaps as sources of labor, financial support and security in old age, and as performers of funeral rites for fathers) can be altered it is unlikely that a reduction in fertility beyond certain levels could occur. The vertical program showed a slightly greater impact on future intentions to use family planning than the integrated program.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)