Background
Family planning services were introduced to the Singapore public following the establishment of the Singapore Family Planning Association (SFPA) in 1949.1 A pioneering group of volunteers provided family planning services at municipal infant welfare clinics and gave birth control methods and contraceptive supplies were to mothers.2
Postwar Singapore experienced exponential rates of population growth in the 1940s, in part due to a fall in mortality and high fertility rates.3 This led to social problems such as food and housing shortages, and raised concerns over the welfare of mothers who underwent multiple pregnancies (some as many as 22 pregnancies) and the unwanted children whose families could not support them.4 Up till then, family planning was perceived as a personal family matter rather than a national concern.5
Advocates of family planning identified that the root of the social problems was families’ producing children in excess of their financial means.6 Hence, in early 1949, several concerned volunteers suggested that family planning advice be made available to mothers at infant welfare clinics.7 With permission from the municipality, a weekly family planning session was introduced at three out of five municipal clinics, but it soon became evident that the service should be expanded to address the problem and that a voluntary body akin to the Family Planning Association of England should spearhead the work.8
The Singapore Family Planning Association
On 22 July 1949, a meeting was held at the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), to discuss the issues of alleviating women’s burden of child-bearing and raising, and the plight of children who were poorly provided for. This meeting, presided over by Sir Percy McNeice (head of the Social Welfare Department), led to the formation of the SFPA.9 Also present at this historic meeting were two women who are regarded today as pioneers of the family planning movement in Singapore: Mrs Goh Kok Kee, first chairman of the SFPA, who subsequently cofounded the International Planned Parenthood Federation; and Celeste Amstutz, president of the YWCA.10
The SFPA aimed to
1) advocate providing facilities for scientific contraception to mitigate the consequences of ill-health and overcrowding,
2) advocate and promote the establishment of Family Planning Centres, and
3) encourage producing healthy children who are an asset to the nation.11
The SFPA relied on mainly volunteers, with government funding, donations and nominal clinic takings.12 A government grant of $5,000 was given in the first year, the amount increasing steadily to $85,000 in 1956 and $120,000 in 1958. Subsequently, the government grant was capped at $100,000 till 1966.13
Introducing family planning services
In introducing family planning in Singapore, the SFPA had to contend with various forms of resistance.14 Not only was the idea of family planning foreign to a population that perceived large families as being natural and necessary, there were religious groups that disapproved of birth control.15 Furthermore, the private nature of the issue meant that a mass approach was inappropriate.16
To educate the population on the idea of family planning, the SFPA organised publicity programmes such as press interviews, news features, radio broadcasts, leaflet distribution and poster displays at public places.17 In addition, the SFPA introduced family planning services such as advice on birth control methods and child spacing.18 These services were initially available at the municipal infant welfare clinics at Prinsep Street, Kreta Ayer and Joo Chiat, as these venues had been dealing with antenatal and postnatal care and were a convenient avenue to raise the issue of family planning.19 Available for only two hours each week, these services were in great demand.20
The SFPA also made family planning services available at the dispensaries of doctors supportive of the cause.21 In November 1949, the SFPA opened its first clinic at Victory Dispensary, the clinic of Dr Goh Kok Kee (husband of SFPA chairwoman Mrs Goh) at 316 South Bridge Road.22 The service was only available once a week for three hours in the afternoon.23 The next two private dispensaries to offer similar services were those of Dr Loh Poon Lip (Union Dispensary) and Dr C. J. Poh (Queen’s Dispensary).24
After the initial successful efforts, the SFPA partnered municipal clinics and eventually established an island-wide network of clinics to provide family planning advice and contraceptive supplies.25 A total of 11 clinics were set up in the SFPA's first year, some at dispensaries of association members and others at government hospitals or outpatient dispensaries in rural and urban areas.26 By 1955, there were 14 clinics around Singapore, 7 each in urban and rural areas.27
Family planning services were made accessible to all families, with a sliding scale for clinic charges based on the household income.28 Those who earned less than S$100, had large expenses (due to numerous children or unemployed husbands) or were receiving social welfare were given contraceptive supplies free of charge.29 Those with a monthly income of less than S$200 and or had large families could obtain supplies at subsidised rates.30 The need for family planning services in rural areas was more acute, as rural mothers from lower income groups tended to have more children and were less informed of family planning ideas and methods.31
Family planning services and programmes
In the initial years, the SFPA targeted mainly mothers.32 Those who welcomed the idea of family planning nonetheless had unfounded doubts about the safety of contraceptive methods, the sinister motives of family planning workers, and the morality of using contraception.33
Referrals from professionals, volunteers and SFPA staff, either formally or informally, were the most effective way of drawing potential patients to the clinics.34 Those who accepted family planning methods also spread the word, making informal referrals an effective means of disseminating the family planning cause.35
On their first visit to the clinic, patients were introduced to the major methods of contraception – the diaphragm, condom, foam tablet, and applicator and paste.36
Patients who failed to revisit the clinics for supplies or check-ups after six months were sent reminder letters. Sometimes home visits were necessary in persuading patients back to the clinics and to contraceptive use.37
Besides contraceptives, the SFPA also offered sterilisation services.38 As this was a drastic measure, it was clearly conveyed to patients and conducted only after careful consideration of their profile.39 After abortion was made legal in 1970, many pregnant women sought the service at SFPA’s clinics.40
Family planning becomes a national concern
In 1964, the SFPA requested that the Ministry of Health take over all family planning activities conducted by the SFPA at government clinics.41 In 1966, the Family Planning and Population Board was established and assumed the duties of the SFPA in overseeing family planning services in 26 government clinics, signalling that family planning was now a national concern.42 By this time, the SFPA had provided family planning services to 88,000 women in the two decades of its existence.43
Author
Irene Lim
References
1. “Family Planning Assn. Formed,” Straits Times, 23 July 1949, 7; “At Kandang Kerbau,” Straits Times, 5 October 1950, 6. (From NewspaperSG)
2. “At Kandang Kerbau”; “Birth Control Clinics,” Singapore Free Press, 28 October 1961, 6. (From NewspaperSG)
3. Saw Swee Hock, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 2nd ed. (Singapore: ISEAS Publishing, 2016), 2. (Call no. RSING 363.96095957 SAW)
4. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 5; “Desperate Mothers Seek Aid: More Going to F.P.A. Clinics”, Singapore Free Press, 3 May 1950, 7. (From NewspaperSG)
5. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 5.
6. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 6; Zhou Mei, The Life of Family Planning Pioneer Constance Goh: A Point of Light, 2nd ed. (Singapore: Yuyue Enterprise, 1997), 130–34. (Call no. RSING 363.96092 ZHO)
7. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 6.
8. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 5; “Family Planning Assn. Formed.”
9. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 6; “Family Planning Assn. Formed”.
10. “Family Planning Assn. Formed”; John Vijayan Vasavan, “Our Founder,” in Planning Happy Families 60 Years On—Singapore Planned Parenthood Association (Singapore: Singapore Planned Parenthood Association, 2009),14–15. (Call no. RSING 363.96095957 PLA)
11. “Family Planning Assn. Formed.”
12. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 8.
13. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 8–9.
14. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 12; “The Tragic Cases of Singapore’s Unwanted Children,” Malaya Tribune, 21 June 1950, 6. (From NewspaperSG)
15. “The Tragic Cases of Singapore’s Unwanted Children”; “Birth Control,” Singapore Free Press, 30 July 1955, 12; “F.P.A. Please Note,” Singapore Standard, 13 October 1951, 6; “ ’We Desire to Face the Facts’ on Population,” Straits Times, 31 August 1951, 6. (From NewspaperSG)
16. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 5; “Majority Vote for Birth Control,” Straits Times, 28 May 1949, 1. (From NewspaperSG)
17. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 20; “Family Planning Talks and Films,” Straits Times, 13 October 1964, 4; “FPA Has Reached the Masses, Claim,” Straits Times, 10 March 1959, 7; “Data on Family Planning Given Out,” Straits Times, 24 August 1951, 8 (From NewspaperSG); Chang Chen-Tung, Fertility Transition in Singapore (Singapore: Singapore University Press, 1974), 122–23. (Call no. RSING 301.32109595 CHA)
18. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 6; “At Kandang Kerbau”.
19. “Women Seek Advice on Birth Control,” Straits Times, 13 August 1949, 1; “First FPA Clinic is Opened,” Straits Times, 5 November 1949, 5. (From NewspaperSG)
20. “First FPA Clinic is Opened”; “First FPA Clinic Opens Tomorrow,” Straits Times, 3 November 1949, 7. (From NewspaperSG)
21. “F.P.A. Gives the Facts,” Singapore Free Press, 31 October 1953, 12; “F.P.A. For Asians,” Straits Times, 15 November 1949, 6. (From NewspaperSG)
22. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 10; “First FPA Clinic is Opened”.
23. “First FPA Clinic is Opened”.
24. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 11 & 21; Zhou Mei, The Life of Family Planning Pioneer Constance Goh: A Point of Light, 2nd ed. (Singapore: Yuyue Enterprise, 1997), 136 (Call no. RSING 363.96092 ZHO)
25. “Birth Control Pills in Great Demand,” Straits Times, 31 March 1965, 4; “F.P.A. Gives the Facts”; “Fund Drive for FPA’s 30 Clinics,” Straits Times, 30 April 1963, 6. (From NewspaperSG)
26. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 12–13.
27. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 13; Singapore Family Planning Association, Sixth Annual Report (Singapore: Singapore Family Planning Association, 1956), 5–7. (Call no. RCLOS 301.426 FPASAR)
28. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 16.
29. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 16; Chang Chen-Tung, Fertility Transition in Singapore (Singapore: Singapore University Press, 1974), 122-123. (Call no. RSING 301.32109595 CHA)
30. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 16; “Birth Control Clinics” Singapore Free Press, 28 October 1961, 6 (From NewspaperSG); Chang, Fertility Transition in Singapore, 122–23.
31. “Desperate Mothers Seek Aid”; “The Tragic Cases of Singapore’s Unwanted Children”; Chang, Fertility Transition in Singapore, 122–23.
32. Zhou, The Life of Family Planning Pioneer Constance Goh: A Point of Light, 135.
33. “Woman (‘Pill Made Me Bald’) Puzzles the FPA,” Straits Times, 7 November 1965, 3; “Contraceptive Canutes,”Singapore Standard, 9 July 1951, 2; “Family Planning is No Answer to Ills,” Singapore Standard, 8 May 1954, 6; “Catholics Answer Silcock, Take Up his Challenge,” Straits Times, 28 October 1951, 11. (From NewspaperSG)
34. Chang, Fertility Transition in Singapore, 139–41; Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 17.
35. Zhou, The Life of Family Planning Pioneer Constance Goh: A Point of Light, 135–40; Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 17.
36. Chang, Fertility Transition in Singapore, 126.
37. Chang, Fertility Transition in Singapore, 127.
38. Chang, Fertility Transition in Singapore, 126.
39. Chang, Fertility Transition in Singapore, 126.
40. Chang, Fertility Transition in Singapore, 126.
41. Saw, Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore, 11; “White Paper on Family Planning,” in Family Planning in Singapore (Singapore, 1965), 4. (Call no. RSING 363.96095957 FAM)
42. “Gazette Act Supplement on Family Planning” in Family Planning in Singapore (Singapore: Singapore Family Planning and Population Board, 1966), 27 (Call no. RSING 363.96095957 FAM); “Speech by Mr Yong Nyuk Lin,” in Family Planning in Singapore (Singapore: Singapore Family Planning and Population Board, 1966), 38. (Call no. RSING 363.96095957 FAM)
43. Chang, Fertility Transition in Singapore, 130.
Further resources
“Return of a Pioneer,” New Nation, 13 October 1977, 8. (From NewspaperSG)
Peters S. J. Chen and James T. Fawcett, eds., Public Policy and Population Change in Singapore (New York: The Population Council, 1979). (Call no. RSING 301.3295957 PUB)
Andrea Kee, “The Early Days of Family Planning in Singapore,” BiblioAsia 18, no. 3 (Oct–Dec 2022).
Eddie C.Y. Kuo and Chiew Seen-Kong, Ethnicity and Fertility in Singapore (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1984). (Call no. RSING 301.3295957 KUO)
The information in this article is valid as of April 2024 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the library for further reading materials on the topic.
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