Family planning in the White population of Port Elizabeth

Abstract

This study of family planning is based on a sample survey of 900 married white women under 50 years of age resident at the time of the survey (June 20th - August 31st, 1964) in the municipalities of Port Elizabeth and Walmer. The present chapter outlines briefly the setting, aims and scope of the study. In South Africa very little has been attempted in the line of the study of human reproductive behaviour, fertility control and the associated norms and values. Indeed, in South Africa there are serious gaps in our demographic knowledge and until fairly recently (1960) even the official census left much to be desired. It is hoped that the data gathered in this study will fill some of the gaps in our demographic knowledge about one particular urban area of South Africa as far as its white population is concerned. The present study is the first of its kind to be conducted in Port Elizabeth although a somewhat similar study was conducted in Johannesburg during 1957-58. As far as Port Elizabeth is concerned, this study breaks new ground, demographically speaking. Chapter 1, p. 1.