When Two Became the Right Thing to Do: The Development and Implementation of the Family Planning Policy in Jamaica
摘要
Globally, family planning has been practiced in some form for centuries as women have sought to control the timing of their pregnancies. The World Health Organization has stated that family planning allows persons to manage the number of children, if any, they desire and the spacing of pregnancies. This is achieved via contraceptive means and with (in)fertility treatments for those who experience difficulties in becoming pregnant. This chapter traces the development of the two-child family planning policy in Jamaica which began as early as the 1930s. Using newspaper articles, policy documents, and secondary sources the chapter highlights the work of some of the earliest pioneers and their efforts in helping to set the stage for later government involvement in family planning. It further emphasizes the importance of the “Two Is Better Than Too Many” and “Plan for Two, It’s the Right Thing to Do” campaigns, which have shaped the family planning agenda on the island since the 1970s. It emphasizes the importance of the family planning policy throughout the history of the island and highlights why it has remained an integral component of national development.