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Roman Catholic Church-sponsored natural family planning services in the United States

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Advances in Contraception

Abstract

Objectives

Our objective was to determine the level and quality of antural family planning service provided by Roman Catholic Diocese-related programs in the United States.

Study disign

Programs volunteerd quarterly data for five years, using least squares regression we estimated service levels for programs never reporting.

Results

From 1988 to 1992, 78 dioceses ever reported and 96 never reported. The majority of clients were avoiding pregnancy and receiving follow-up. An average of 18 061 women were taught by these programs each year in the reporting period.

Conclusion

Without greater commitment of resources, it is likely that NFP will continue to be a marginal method of family planning in the United States.

Resumé

Objectifs

Notre objectif était de déterminer le niveau et la qualité du service de planning familial naturel, fourni aux Etats-Unis par les programmes liés aux Diocèses catholiques.

Conception de létude

Les programmes devaient fournir volontairement pendant cinq ans des données trimestrielles, sur la base de coefficients de régression des moindress carrés; quant aux services liés aux programmes n'ayant pas communiqué de statistiques, nous en avons estmé le niveau

Résultats

De 1988 à 1992, 78 diocèses ont communiqué des statistiques et 96 n'en ont jamais communiqués. La majorité des intéressées évitaient des grossesses et elles étaient suivies. En moyenne, ces programmes avaient fourni chaque année des conseils à 18.061 femmes durant la période de l'étude.

Conclusion

Sans devoir faire appel à des ressources considérables, le planning faminlial naturel restera probablement une méthode de planning familial marginal aux Etats-Unis.

Resumen

Objetivos

Nuestro objetivo consistió en determinar el nivel y la calidad del serivicio de planficacación familiar natural proporcionado por programas relacionados con diócesis católicas en Estados Unidos.

Diseño del estudio

Los programas proporcionaron datos voluntariamente durante cinco años y, utilizando la regresión de los mínimos cuadrados, estimamos los niveles del servicio correspondientes a los programas que no proporcionaron datos.

Rsultados

De 1988 a 1992, 78 diócesis proporcionaron infomatición y 96 nunca lo hicieron. La mayoría de las pacientes evitaban el embarzo y recibieron seguimiento. Mediante estos programas, se enseño en promedio a 18.061 mujeres cada año en el período de información.

Conclusión

Sin destinar mayores recursos, es probable que el servicio de planificación familiar natural contnúe siendo un método marginal de planificación familiar en Estados Unidos.

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The statements and opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the editors or publishers ofAdvances of Contraception or of Johns Hopkins University or of The National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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Kambic, R.T., Notare, T. Roman Catholic Church-sponsored natural family planning services in the United States. Adv Contracept 10, 85–92 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01978102

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