Thailand population control case study

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Case Study- Sustainable population management- Thailand

The situation in 1970

Growth rate- 3.2% a year

Fertility- 6.5 children per woman

Contraception use- Total population- 26.4 million

GNP US $- 110 per person

HUGE AIDS PROBLEM

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The approach

Much of the success in Thailand is attributed directly to Mechai Viravaidya, a former government economist and public relations genius who launched the PDA

The trademark of the campaign was condoms and the idea was to increase contraceptive use in Thailand to lower population increase and the spread of AIDS.

The Thai government made a wide range of contraceptives available to the public

Thailand was amongst the first countries to use the intravenous contraceptive DMPA and still remains one of its largest users

The contraceptive services were extended to even remote rural areas as a huge population live in the countryside.

Non scalpel vasectomies are available at festivals and other events and the PDA offers free vasectomies on the Kings Birthday.

Special bars and pubs even offer condoms after the meal rather than mints

Sterilisation has now become the most widely used form of contraceptive in the country.

Sustainability

Population control based on a better standard of living is more likely to be sustainable than policies that force people to have fewer children.

The PDA offers loans linked to contraception use. Interest rates were substantially lower than traditional money lenders in poor rural communities.

The PDA provided loans to build rain water catchment for jars of drinking water.

End results today

growth rate- 0.8%

fertility- 1.7 children per woman

contraception use- 72%

total population- 66.6 million

GNP US $- 1950

reduced AIDS problem

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