Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Population programme paves the way for better flow of and use of population information

The population program of DPRK is currently generating census data, a number of demographic and contraceptive research studies, and various IEC materials. However, these have not been widely disseminated. At the same time, policymakers and professionals engaged in population and development activities expressed the need for more information and materials to assist them in their tasks. To address these needs, the government represented by the National Coordinating Committee for Population Programs, proposed the establishment of a Population Information Center that will facilitate the collection, processing, dissemination, and use of population information and materials in order to support the work of the population personnel. In a fact-finding and project development mission undertaken with the assistance of the UNFPA (UN Population Fund), Beijing, UNDP (UN Development Programme) Pyongyang, and CST for East and Southeast Asia Adviser on Population Information, it was agreed upon that a Population Information Center be set up at the Grand People's Study House which serves as the central document information center in the country as well as correspondence university rendering re-education programs for the working people. The project document basically lays the foundation for a nationwide population information networking by building first the centerpiece of the network. It will develop the capability of the Grand People's Study House in collecting, organizing, analyzing, repackaging and disseminating population information as well as in managing a nationwide network. Four activities will be envisaged to achieve this goal. The first requires the establishment of the Population Information Center structure and organization. The rest necessitate the collection of materials and creation of a bibliographic database, the training of personnel in various information-handling tools and techniques and service provision, and facilitating dissemination of information through a repackaging and lecture series program.

Cambodia. Programmatic approach to IEC on reproductive health

Various UNFPA-funded population programs are now in place in six provinces and the capital and some more are in the pipeline. The ones currently being implemented include projects on maternal and child health and birth spacing, national population census, improvement of family health of displaced persons, and socio-economic research. Those in the pipeline are population education in the school system, gender and population issues, and population and environment. All the programs mentioned have implications for information, education and communication (IEC). To implement these programs effectively, UNFPA and the government realized the need for IEC support. To provide a coherent, integrated and holistic approach to the provision of IEC support to all the UNFPA-funded population activities, a programmatic approach to IEC was developed with the assistance of CST adviser on population communication, Mr. Francisco Roque. The IEC program will basically support the government policy of providing voluntary birth spacing services as a means to promote better maternal and child health through IECM activities; and to provide adequate information to selected target groups required to bring about desired behavioral changes in responsible reproductive decision-making and lifestyle. The target groups to be reached include: service providers and health workers, policymakers and administrators, women of reproductive age, men, and the adolescents aged 15-19 as well as teachers and trainers. The IEC interventions hope to create awareness of the benefits of birth spacing, introduce population concepts in curricula and appropriate health/teaching materials in selected medical schools and secondary schools, reduce misconceptions, provide proper counseling, and sustain government's interest and commitment to the population program.

[Dynamics of numerical changes in human population in terms of animal population ecology]

The author uses data concerning the natural regulation of population size and growth among animals to consider possible future scenarios for human population growth. Four possible variants are considered: "numerical stabilization and its consequences connected with density effect; sharp slump caused by a global ecological catastrophe; limited slump brought about by exhaustion of resources and environmental pollution; numerical decrease through birth regulation. It has been shown that only the last variant can, in [the] case of the human population being 1.2-1.5 billion people, ensure restoration of [the] biosphere with keeping [the] existing tempo of scientific-technological progress." (SUMMARY IN ENG)

Refining the issues for realistic population-development policies in Africa

"Varied population issues have sprung up as the population-development question has received more attention with time.... This paper takes up [critical population] issues and refines them in the perspective of African realities for long-term development. It is argued that the assumptions on which the Coale-Hoover model is based are untenable in the African circumstances.... The issues [considered in this paper] and having a common denominator, namely, reduction of current high fertility, are as follows: (a) old age structure and prospects for economic development; (b) the danger for Africa of rapid decline in fertility; (c) maternal and child health advantages; and, (d) environmental protection."