Diffusion of Innovations: Family Planning in Developing Countries

One of the best examples of the validity of the theory of "diffusion of innovations" is the case of family planning in developing countries. The desire of health, development and environment advocates in rich countries to make modern contraceptive use and lower fertility a norm in developing countries was translated into organized efforts to reach top-level leaders in these countries. Once on board, these high-level leaders cooperated with bilateral and international funding agencies as well as private foundations to develop mass media and community education campaigns, while simultaneously setting up clinic infrastructure; training doctors, nurses and outreach workers; and developing a new and varied "cafeteria" of modern methods. Over the intervening decades, this innovation was indeed diffused and became a norm, but not without its controversies and missed opportunities.