Abstract

PIP: Colombia's rate of population growth of about 2%/year from 1938-51 increased to over 3% between 1951-64 before dropping again to 1.8% in 1985. The total fertility rate declined from 6.7 in 1969 to 3.2 in 1986, but the decline was not equal for all population sectors. In 1986, the total fertility rate was 4.4 in the Atlantic Coast region, 2.7 in Bogota, 2.8 in urban areas, 4.9 in rural areas, 5.4 for illiterate women, and 1.5 for women with higher educations. Knowledge of contraceptive methods is almost universal, with pills, IUDs, and female sterilization the best known. The proportion of women in union using contraception increased from 15% in rural areas and 45% in urban areas in 1969 to 53% in rural areas and 70% in urban areas in 1986. Use of female sterilization increased steadily to 19% of urban and 17% of rural women by 1985, while use of oral contraceptives declined slightly from 20% of urban and 12% of rural women in 1978 to 18% of urban and 13% of rural women in 1986. 11% of women in union used IUDs in 1986. Use of contraception increased rapidly with age of the woman, from 57% of women in union aged 20-24 to 76% aged 35-39. Rates of contraceptive usage in 1986 were 51% for illiterate women, 62% for those with primary educations, 72% for those with secondary educations, and 81% for those with higher educations. The private family planning organization PROFAMILIA is the contraceptive source for over 1/3 of family planning users, with especially high rates for IUD and sterilization users. PROFAMILIA sells over 1/2 of the pills, condoms, and vaginal methods used in the country. Pharmacies supply 30% of users, with especially high rates for pills, injectables, condoms, and vaginal methods. Around 1988, there will be an estimated 7,889,242 fertile aged women in Colombia, some 4,212,855 of them in union and 2,814,187 current users. Although PROFAMILIA is 1 of the most economical family planning programs in the world, its need for financial support will inevitably increase as the number of clients increases.