Contraception should be encouraged as a means of promoting the health of women and children rather than as a means of achieving demographic goals. Governments should eliminate through educational and legislative measures and the creation of monitoring mechanisms, all forms of harmful traditional childbirth practices. Governments should expand and improve health services and introduce training programmes for traditional birth attendants to upgrade their positive traditional skills, as well as to give them new skills on a priority basis. Research and documentation is essential to assess the harmful effects of certain traditional birth related practices and to identify and continue some positive traditions like breast-feeding.