Even though sanitation was es

A preference for sons or for more sons than daughters has been documented in several countries in the world.

The expectant and lactating mothers are considered as nutritionally vulnerable group especially in the developing countries of the world. Due to nursing process mothers are subjected to nutritional stresses.

A growing recognition that population dynamics, quality of life and women's status are closely inter related argues strongly for a fresh look at India's population program.

In the last decade, several international and national movements have focused their attention, on the long neglected areas of women's reproductive health.

Breastfeeding and lactational amenorrhoea play a unique role in child health, birth spacing and fertility regulation.

India's efforts to promote family planning have produced a significant increase in the couple protection rate (CPR) which has increased by about 33 percent during the last 22 years-from 10.4 percent in 1970 to 43.5 in 1992.

The Indian family welfare program is a centrally sponsored scheme, implemented by the State governments within the framework of elaborate guidelines and norms developed by the Central Government.