Need for publicly financed family planning services as measured by seven area surveys.

ABSTRACT

PIP Data collected in 1972 from 7 diverse communities in the United States were used to determine the impact of federally assisted family planning programs. On the average 56% of low income women were at risk of an unwanted pregnancy. Of these, 40% were receiving family planning services from organized family planning programs and 22% from private physicians. More than 1/2 the women were using either the IUD or pill, and 15% were not using any contraceptive method. Fertility rates were higher for low-income than for high-income women, although the use of effective methods was similar. Because of the similarity of the findings to national estimates, it is suggested that national estimates can reliably be used for local programming.^ieng