title: Changes for merit goods:  third world family planning.
abstract: "This article examines the arguments for and against user fees, privatisation, and decentralisation of health care and family planning delivery systems and compares the effectiveness of fee-for-service delivery by decentralised systems with that of centralised systems with services provided free of charge.  Developing countries have achieved remarkable reductions in fertility rates in the past 25 years, but continuing gains depend largely upon increasing the capacity of family planning and health care delivery systems in rural areas."
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Godwin
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003710:Demography; D003906:Developing Countries; D004467:Economics; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005249:Fees and Charges; D005376:Financial Management; D006262:Health; D006269:Health Facilities, Proprietary; D006285:Health Planning; D006296:Health Services; D009934:Organization and Administration; D011057:Politics; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012106:Research; D012424:Rural Population
keywords: Comparative Studies; Decentralization; Delivery Of Health Care; Demographic Factors; Developing Countries; Economic Factors; Family Planning; Family Planning Program Evaluation; Family Planning Programs; Fees; Financial Activities; Health; Health Services; Organization And Administration; Population; Population Characteristics; Privately Sponsored Programs; Program Effectiveness; Program Evaluation; Programs; Research Methodology; Rural Population; Studies