Population planning and health programs

The Congress recognizes that poor health conditions and uncontrolled population growth can vitiate otherwise successful development efforts.

Large families in developing countries are the result of complex social and economic factors which change relatively slowly among the poor majority least affected by economic progress, as well as the result of a lack of effective birth control. Therefore, effective family planning depends upon economic and social change as well as the delivery of services and is often a matter of political and religious sensitivity. While every country has the right to determine its own policies with respect to population growth, voluntary population planning programs can make a substantial contribution to economic development, higher living standards, and improved health and nutrition.

Good health conditions are a principal element in improved quality of life and contribute to the individual’s capacity to participate in the development process, while poor health and debilitating disease can limit productivity.

( Pub. L. 87–195 , pt. I, § 104, as added Pub. L. 93–189, § 2(3) , Dec. 17, 1973 , 87 Stat. 715 ; amended Pub. L. 93–559, § 4(1) , Dec. 30, 1974 , 88 Stat. 1795 ; Pub. L. 94–161, title III, § 304 , Dec. 20, 1975 , 89 Stat. 857 ; Pub. L. 95–88, title I, § 103(a) –(c), Aug. 3, 1977 , 91 Stat. 534 ; Pub. L. 95–424, title I, § 104(a) , Oct. 6, 1978 , 92 Stat. 945 ; Pub. L. 96–53, title I, § 102 , Aug. 14, 1979 , 93 Stat. 360 ; Pub. L. 96–533, title III, § 302 , Dec. 16, 1980 , 94 Stat. 3145 ; Pub. L. 97–113, title III, § 302 , Dec. 29, 1981 , 95 Stat. 1532 ; Pub. L. 98–473, title I, § 101(1) [title V, § 541(a)] , Oct. 12, 1984 , 98 Stat. 1884 , 1903; Pub. L. 99–83, title III , §§ 303–305(a), Aug. 8, 1985 , 99 Stat. 214 ; Pub. L. 99–529, title I, § 103 , title IV, § 404(1), Oct. 24, 1986 , 100 Stat. 3011 , 3019; Pub. L. 106–264, title I, § 111(a) , title II, § 203, Aug. 19, 2000 , 114 Stat. 751 , 759; Pub. L. 108–25, title III , §§ 301(a)(1), 303(c), May 27, 2003 , 117 Stat. 728 , 737.)