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Changing needs

Apart from the suitability of different methods of family planning for different people, a choice of methods may also be needed as reproductive intentions change. Some may wish to postpone a first pregnancy, others to space births, still others to end child-bearing. The table derived from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) interviews in five high-fertility countries and six low-fertility countries, shows how women responded when asked about their wishes. 
Seven or more births per woman        Under three births per woman     

    Births           %            %             Births           %           %
       per  wishing to   wishing to                per  wishing to  wishing to
     woman    postpone   end child-              woman    postpone  end child-
      1993   pregnancy      bearing               1993   pregnancy     bearing
-----------------------------------    ----------------------------------------  
Niger  7.4          14            5    Brazil      2.9           5           8
Uganda 7.2          20            7    Indonesia   2.9           6           6
Mali   7.1          17            6    Colombia    2.7           3          12
Malawi 7.1          20           17    Sri Lanka   2.5           7           5
Guinea 7.0          18            6    Trinidad/T. 2.4           8           8
                                       Thailand    2.1           6           6
Sources: Fertility: United Nations Population Division, World population prospects the 1994 revision, 1994. Family planning demand updated from `The reproductive revolution, new survey findings', Population reports, series M, no. 11, Dec. 1992.

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