Population Planning in Turkey: National and Foreign Priorities

Abstract

The sharp decline in the death rate in Turkey after World War II caused a rapid population expansion. In 1965, Turkey had to change its traditional pronatalist policy. The objective of this new policy, specified in the First Five-Year Development Plan, was to counteract the adverse effects of rapid population growth on economic development. The plan envisaged a forceful implementation of its new policy. The subsequent Second and Third Plans, however, placed a lower priority on the control of population growth even though the actual rate of growth was not changed appreciably. The implementation of family planning programs by the government has always been slow and results have lagged far behind both targets set in the plans and public demand. It is encouraging that the public attitude continues to be favorable, in spite of slow government action, and that the level of contraceptive use is increasing. In fact, the small family norm is accepted by the majority of families in Turkey. Knowledge of modern contraception is rapidly being disseminated, though no modern means has yet displaced coitus interruptus as the most frequently used method. The probable reasons for the low priority given to family planning programs by the government are discussed. International agencies and governments which have bilateral agreements with the Turkish government always give a high priority to requests related to family planning. The resources they have provided, however, have not been utilized properly and have had little effect on the projects. Grant and loan giving agencies have recently requested the Turkish government to provide them with a long-range comprehensive program in population control so that they can coordinate their assistance within its broad framework.