Younger women in Taiwan want smaller families, fewer sons; birth control use is found widespread.

Studies in Taiwan indicate that the practice of birth control increased, the preferred family size declined, and the preference for sons decreased from 1965 to 1973. The proportion of young women who were married decreased as did the birth rate between 1965 and 1972. Illegal abortion continued to be practiced; almost 250,000 induced abortions were obtained in 1973. 70% of community leaders and 90% of gynecologists favor liberalization of the restrictive abortion law. Fertility declined most for women 30 years old and older in the 1960's; between 1970 and 1972 fertility declined for women under 30. The preferred number of children decreased with education and urbanization. Contraceptive use increased for all age and educational groups during these years. Contraception seems to be used more for spacing than for limitation of births.