Middle East regional project 298-0150 · 1980–1986 · University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Is socioeconomic development more effective than family planning (FP) in reducing fertility in developing countries? This report explores this question by analyzing Egypt's demographic history since 1800 and recent trends in its population policy. Pre-1973 efforts chiefly consisted of providing contraceptives. This resulted in a drop in the birth rate from 43.0 to 34.4 per 1,000 from 1963-72. In 1973, Egypt reoriented its population policy to emphasize the developmental approach, i.e., aiming to reduce fertility through higher living standards, education, female employment, agricultural mechanization, rural industrialization, reduced infant mortality, improved social security, information dissemination, as well as the provision of FP services. Despite these efforts, birth rates rose to 41 per 1,000 in 1979. This rate, if continued unchecked, would lead to a doubling of Egypt's population in 23 years, exhaust cultivable land, and increase dependence on foreign aid and imported food. Weaknesses in the FP program in Egypt under the developmental approach include a low participation rate (only 8-10% in rural areas, where the population is most concentrated); irregularity of contrac

Source: DEC abstract, PN-AAJ-373 (1980). The source's own text.