Little progress in contraceptives use–report

The number of women in developing countries who want to avoid pregnancy but are not using modern contraception declined only slightly from 226 to 222 million between 2008 and 2012, a new study says.The report, “Adding It Up: Costs and Benefits of Contraceptive Services—Estimates for 2012,” shows that 645 million women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in the developing world are now using modern contraceptive methods, 42 million more than in 2008.The study by the Guttmacher Institute and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) shows a substantial increase in modern method prevalence rates from 20 percent in 2008 to 27 percent in 2012 among married women in Eastern Africa.Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Malawi registered a considerable increase, while India, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe witnessed less change in recent years. Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that 40 percent of sexually active, unmarried women in Rwanda use at least one modern contraceptive method compared to 45 per cent of married women.The wider use of contraceptive methods within the East Africa region is still undermined by underlying cultural beliefs that glorify larger families, according to health officials.Never-married women make up a large and important group that accounts for 26 percent of all women aged 15–49 years in the developing world in 2012 and comprises mostly adolescents and young adult women aged 15–24 years.There has been a steady long-term trend toward increased levels of sexual activity among these women due to a combination of factors, including changing societal values.However, in the 69 poorest countries, where 73 percent of all women with unmet need for modern contraceptives reside, the number increased from 153 to 162 million. The report noted an increase in the number of modern contraceptive users between 2008 and 2012, which was roughly 10 million per year. This was much lower than the annual increase between 2003 and 2008, which was approximately 20 million per year.The overall proportion using a modern method among married women–who comprise 92 percent of all modern method users, remained virtually unchanged at 56–57 per cent between 2008 and 2012.However, there were significant regional variations. Substantial increases occurred in Eastern Africa (from 20 to 27 percent) and Southeast Asia (from 50 to 56 per cent), while there was little change in Western Africa and Middle Africa regions, where fewer than 10 percent of married women use modern contraceptives.“The desire to have smaller families is increasing in many parts of the world, yet many women are still unable to have the number of children they want when they want them,” said Dr. Sharon Camp, president of the Guttmacher Institute.“The gains that would result from providing quality contraceptive services to all women would more than outweigh the cost but the current investment falls far short of what is needed to make this a reality.”Providing the current level of contraceptive care in the developing world costs $4 billion annually and saves $5.6 billion in maternal and newborn health service costs.The report finds that fully meeting all needs for modern contraceptive methods would cost $8.1 billion per year. “Meeting the global demand for voluntary family planning will not only save and improve the lives of women and children; it will empower women, reduce poverty and ultimately build stronger nations,” noted Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, calling for the bridging of the gap between demand for family planning and the availability of services.The report said the effects of filling the current unmet need for modern contraceptive methods would bring unintended pregnancies to fall by two-thirds, from 80 million to 26 million.It projects that there would be 26 million fewer abortions (including 16 million fewer unsafe procedures) and 21 million fewer unplanned births with seven million fewer miscarriages occurring.The report said pregnancy-related deaths would drop by 79,000. Most of this reduction (48,000) would take place in Sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest levels of both maternal mortality and unmet need for contraception. And there would be 1.1 million fewer infant deaths.The Guttmacher Institute works to advance sexual and reproductive health in the United States and worldwide through an interrelated programme of social science research, policy analysis and public education designed to generate new ideas, encourage enlightened public debate and promote sound policy and programme development.

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Little progress in contraceptives use–report