Village family planning: the Indonesian model: institutionalizing contraceptive practice.

The initial aim of the Indonesian National Family Planning Program was to disseminate contraceptive supplies widely and to spread the small family norm. Following acceptance of the idea of family planning at the national and provincial level the program spread to the village level in 1975. This phase is now underway in Java and Bali where village distribution centers and subvillage family planning groups have been established. In the 7 years before the village-based phase the program recruited 6 1/2 million new acceptors in Java and Bali; the emphasis changed from the IUD to the pill. It was to avoid "plateauing" that the program was moved beyond the clinic. Decisions regarding development of the village programs were left to the local leaders with contraceptive resupply the 1st priority. Subvillage groups are now seeking to integrate family planning with other development/self help programs. There is a need for evaluation of the effect of the program on actual birth rates in the country.