The Indian Family Planning Association (IFPA) recently announced that it is fully involved in its new project in the State of Madya Pradesh entitled Small Family by Choice. The project aims to reach rural populations in three districts of Bhopal, Sagar and Vidisha, which collectively have a population of 3.9 million people. The IFPA is eager to receive any relevant resources, including audio-visual aids, which may be relevant to its project for the library/documentation centre which it has set up in Bhopal. For further information, please contact: M.R. Mishra, Programme Development Officer, Family Planning Association of India, Parivar Pragati Pariyojana, Parivar Pragati Bhavan, E-4/21, Arera Colony, Bhopal, 462 016, Madhya Pradesh, India. Fax: (0755) 565006.
(Source: Open File, June 1995)
Myanmar to join Asia-Pacific POPIN
Because the Government of Myanmar recognises the importance of population data and information collection and dissemination, it recently took a major step in support of population information activities in the country. In this regard, the Government reorganized the Immigration and Population Department, which had been under the Ministry of Home and Religious Affairs, to be under the new Ministry of Immigration and Population. The change took place on 15 June 1995. Following this development, ESCAP staff undertook a mission to Myanmar in July at the invitation of the Government, to assist in drawing up a project proposal for the establishment of Myanmar POPIN. The draft proposal is currently being finalized; it will be submitted to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for possible funding.
UNBIS plus on CD-ROM
The United Nations, Department of Public Information (DPI) recently announced the availability of a new CD-ROM product, UNBIS Plus on CD-ROM. This CD-ROM provides public access for the first time to all the files of the United Nations Bibliographic Information System (UNBIS).
Previously, this database was available online only to United Nations offices, permanent missions and selected government agencies. Furthermore, the complete files of UNBIS are not available on any network, including the Internet. Now UNBIS Plus on CD-ROM provides new and user-friendly access to this database without costly telecommunications charges.
UNBIS is designed to make United Nations information accessible to both specialists and non-specialists. Standard PC and CD-ROM hardware and software are all that are required to use UNBIS Plus.
UNBIS Plus on CD-ROM comprises a variety of files: bibliographic, full-text, factual, name and subject authority and reference. Records are searchable by numerous criteria, beyond the traditional author, title and subject.
Handbook on e-mail
At Ease with E-Mail is the title of handbook designed for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) using electronic communication in developing countries. In cooperation with the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS), the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) has produced a guide written in a simple question-and-answer format which attempts to demystify and inform those interested in using e-mail in developing countries. The book will soon be available in English, French and Spanish.
(Source: International Dateline, July/August 1995)
IPPF's new magazine
The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Western Hemisphere Region has launched a new magazine, Sustainability Matters, which will be published three times a year in English and Spanish. The new publication is produced by the Sustainability Working Group, formed in March 1994 and the USAID-funded Transition Project.
For further information, please contact: IPPF/WHR, 902 Broadway, 10th floor, New York 10010, U.S.A.
CST occasional paper series
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Support Team (CST) for East and South-East Asia has published the following papers as part of the CST Occasional Paper Series.
Paper No.1: Issues and approaches to women, population and development in East and South-East Asia; and
Paper No.2: Management information system for reproductive health/family planning: myths and realities.
This series seeks to present before a wider audience the thinking within the Team on major technical issues and approaches in the population field, especially in the light of the new population and development paradigm embodied in the ICPD Programme of Action. The papers should be useful to national counterparts as well as researchers in national research centres and elsewhere as well as technical personnel within the subregion and beyond.
For further information, please contact: Director, UNFPA Country Support Team for East and South-East Asia, United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand.
POPs supplement available from FHI
A supplement to the December issue of Contraception, vol. 50, No. 6 (supplement 1), on progestin only oral contraceptives, is available from Family Health International (FHI). It provides a comprehensive review of progestin-only-pills (POPs). It covers metabolic effects, cardio-vascular disease, cancer and other medical considerations, interaction of POPs with drugs, common side-effects, and breast-feeding.
A copy may be obtained free of cost to developing-country health professionals by writing to: Family Health International, P.O. Box 13950, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, U.S.A.
(Source: Network, vol. 15, No. 4, June 1995)
Books on improving communication skills
Effective public relations is critical to the success of contraceptive social marketing projects. Recognizing this fact, the Futures Group has published four new booklets to help programme managers to improve their communication skills. The bookslet cover public relations, and public speaking with confidence and style. All books may be requested free of charge.
For more information, please contact: PR Department, the Futures Group, 1050 17th St. NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036, U.S.A.
(Source: Network, vol. 15, No. 4, June 1995)
Agenda-setting guide
The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) recently published "Putting Gender on the Agenda: A Guide to Participating in UN World Conferences". The free handbook provides specific and practical information on how United Nations conferences operate and how non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can enhance their particpation in them.
Copies are available from: UNIFEM, 304 East 45th Street, New York, NY 10017, U.S.A.
(Source: POPLI, vol. 22, No. 4, April 1995)
Bibliography on gender awareness
The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Women's Unit has produced a bibliography providing an overview of the central concepts, issues and debates about gender in relation to family planning, population and development. The bibliography is designed for field workers and family planning programme managers to help them understand gender issues and integrate a gender perspective into their work.
The bibliography includes tools for gender analysis, planning and training, and specific discussion of development in relation to family planning, reproductive health and population.
For further information, please contact: IPPF, Regent's College, Inner Circle, Regent's Park, London NW1 4NS, United Kingdom.
(Source: Open File, July 1995)
Audiovisual library at PRB closes
The Population Reference Bureau (PRB) officially closed its population-environment Audiovisual Library on 30 June 1995. However, PRB will continue to rent out a selected list of population or historically important films and videos that are unavailable from other sources.
For more information, please contact: Ms. Kimberly Crews, PRB, 1875 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 520, Washington 20009-5728, U.S.A.
(Source: Population Today, vol. 23, No. 7/8, July/August 1995)
New media publication
The Center for Communication Programs' Media/Materials Clearinghouse is embarking on a new publication, i.e. an annotated illustrated listing of materials entitled What's new. It will highlight some of the latest items collected. The Media/Materials Clearinghouse now includes over 23,000 communication materials, such as videos, posters and pamphlets, produced as part of family planning and health communication efforts from over 130 countries. What's new is a medium for sharing those materials with health communication professionals throughout the world.
Each issue of What's new will cover a special subject and will list and describe each item, include photographs of most of the materials, and provide an address for more information. This newsletter will replace an older publication entitled The PCS Packet Series.
The first issue covers materials specifically designed to encourage men to take responsibility in making reproductive health decisions which affect heir families.
To be on the mailing list to receive the publication, please contact: Media/Materials Clearinghouse, Population Communication Services, Population Information Program, Center for Communication Programs, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 111 Market Street, Suite 310, Baltimore, Maryland 21202-4024, U.S.A.
(Source: POPLINE on Disc, vol. 3, No. 2, July 1995)
Guide for improving communication skills
Family Care International (FCI) recently produced a guide highlighting communication skills for improving women's health. The guide is designed to help improve the quality of women's reproductive health services and to enhance the role of health workers in preventing and treating reproductive health problems. The specific goal is to improve the communication skills of nurses, midwives and others who provide health services to women.
For further information, please contact: FCI, 588 Broadway, Suite 503, New York, NY 10012, U.S.A. Fax: (212) 941- 5563.
(Source: Open File, September 1995)
1993 demographic yearbook
The 1993 Demographic Yearbook, which was released by the United Nations in July 1995, is the forty-fifth issue in a series that began in 1948. This issue is devoted to disseminating the data collected by the most recent round of national population censuses, which span the period 1985-1994. A total of 202 countries or areas conducted population and housing census during that period. The census data contained in the Yearbook include geographic, demographic and social characteristics of the population.
In addition to the tables devoted to the special topic covered by the Yearbook, the regular tables present data on population by urban/rural residence, sex and age; fertility statistics; mortality data; and data on marriage and divorce.
Copies of the Demographic Yearbook 1993 (Sales No. E/F.95XIII.1) may be ordered from: the Sales Section, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, U.S.A.
(Source: Population Newsletter, No. 59, June 1995)
Data sheet on women
The data sheet entitled The World's Women, 1995 provides a wide array of data on issues affecting the quality of women's lives: demography, education, labour force, reproductive health and public life. Drawn from international sources, the data reinforce both the disadvantages that owmen around the world face compared with men in many key development sectors and the additional burdens of illiteracy and poor health that women in developing countries carry.
For further information, please contact: Population Reference Bureau, 1875 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 520, Washington, D.C. 20009-5728, U.S.A.
(Source: PRB Information Sheet, 29 April 1995)
Publications on ICPD
Several recent publications of special relevance to the International Conference on Population and Development are currently available:
1. Population and Development: Programme of Action adopted at the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994, Volume 1. For copies, please contact: UNFPA Task Force on ICPD Implementation, 220 East 42nd Street, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10017, U.S.A. Fax: (212) 297-5250.
2. National Perspectives on Population and Development: Synthesis of 168 national reports prepared for the International Conference on Population and Development, 1994. Prepared by the Secretariat of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), this report is based on analyses of the national reports submitted for ICPD. For copies, please contact: UNFPA Task Force on ICPD Implementation, 220 East 42nd Street, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10017, U.S.A. Fax: (212) 297-5250.
3. Summary of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (DPI/1618/POP). Prepared by the Department of Public Information. For copies, please contact: 220 East 42nd Street, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10017, U.S.A. Fax: (212) 297-5250.
4. Action for the 21st Century: Reproductive Health and Rights for All. Prepared by Family Care International (FCI). For copies, please contact: Family Care International, 588 Broadway, Suite 503, New York, NY 10017, U.S.A. Fax: (212) 297-5250.
5. The Cairo Consensus: The Right Agenda for the Right Time. By Adrienne Germain and Rachel Kyte. For copies, please contact: International Women's Health Coalition, 24 E. 21st Street, New York, NY 10010, U.S.A.
(Source: ICPD News, No. 1, July 1995)
Global population policy
The United Nations has produced a country-by-country description of national population policies in 1993. The policy topics covered are population growth, mortality, fertility, intenal migration, immigration and emigration. The publication is entitled Global Population Policy Database 1993, United Nations, 1995. (Ref: ST/ESA/SER.R/138).
For further information, please contact: United Nations, New York, NY 10017, U.S.A.
(Source: Open File, September 1995)
Population Council working papers
The following working papers are available from the Research Division of the Population Council: 1. The cause of unmet need for contraception and the content of services (Working Paper No. 69);
2. Socioeconomic change and the demand for children in rural Bangladesh (Working Paper No. 70);
3. The role of family planning programmes in contemporary fertility transitions (Working Paper No. 71);
4. On population growth and revisionism: further questions (Working Paper No. 72); 5. The long-term demographic role of community based family planning in rural Bangladesh (Work Paper No. 73);
6. Household structure and poverty: What are the connections? (Working Paper No. 74).
For further information, please contact: Research Division, the Population Council, One Dag Hammerskjold Plaza, New York, NY 10017, U.S.A.
(Source: Open File, September 1995)