By: Lebohang Maluke
MASERU
-The world marks World Contraception Day every 26th of September, shining a spotlight on a topic often shrouded in taboo and misinformation: contraception. On this day, people around the globe unite to advocate for reproductive health, gender equality, and the empowerment of women.
From the bustling streets of urban centers to the quiet villages nestled in remote corners of the globe, the call for better access to contraception is a rallying cry for progress, an echo of hope that reverberates in the hearts of all who understand the transformative power of choice and agency.
Awareness and Education which aims to increase awareness about the importance of contraception for reproductive health and family planning. It helps educate people about their options and promotes healthy choices. Reducing Stigma and barriers associated with contraception, making it more acceptable and accessible to all.
Empowerment and Equality in providing access to contraception is a crucial step in promoting gender equality and empowering women to make informed choices about their reproductive health. Access to contraception is recognized as a fundamental human right.
This access promotes the health and well-being of not only women and girls but also their families and communities. However, around the globe, rising inequalities—stemming from factors such as race, displacement, education, and income—hinder the ability of millions, particularly women and girls, to obtain contraceptive methods.
Every person should be assured the right to safeguard their reproductive health and to make informed decisions regarding family planning. Access to contraception is crucial for bodily autonomy and for realizing one’s full potential; it plays a significant role in reducing adolescent pregnancies, preventing maternal fatalities, and advancing gender equality.
Freedom to plan, power to choose. There remains much work to be accomplished. Although numerous countries have increased their investments in contraceptive services, a widening funding gap for contraceptives persists globally—projected to reach at least $1.5 billion in low-income and middle-income nations by 2030. This shortfall poses a serious threat to the health and safety of women and girls.
At present, approximately 257 million women worldwide—predominantly residing in low-income and middle-income countries—experience an unmet need for modern contraceptive methods, which heightens their risk of sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and preventable maternal deaths.
UNICEF that they cannot permit women to suffer or die due to inadequate access to contraception. It is imperative that we provide them with the necessary resources to ensure their safety and to uphold their sexual and reproductive health, especially during crises and periods of displacement when their vulnerabilities are exacerbated.
The Impact can be significant: Research indicates that fulfilling the unmet need for contraception could prevent over half of maternal deaths by mitigating high-risk pregnancies, promoting greater spacing between births, and reducing the incidence of unsafe abortions.
UNICEF mentions at the prevalence of contraceptive use and the unmet demand for family planning serve as essential metrics for evaluating advancements in access to reproductive health, as highlighted in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically under target 3.7. This target aims to “ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services by 2030, which includes family planning, education, and the incorporation of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.”
The dataset titled World Contraceptive Use 2024 comprises survey-based observations from various countries regarding critical family planning indicators, utilizing data available as of April 2024. This updated dataset has facilitated the creation of Family Planning Indicators 2024, which offers national, regional, and global estimates and projections concerning family planning metrics.
Both datasets contribute to the global assessment of the Sustainable Development Goals indicator 3.7.1, which measures the “proportion of women of reproductive age (15-49 years) whose need for family planning is met with modern methods.”
WHO states that Family planning empowers individuals to achieve their preferred number of children, if any, and to manage the timing of their pregnancies? This is accomplished through the utilization of contraceptive methods and addressing infertility issues. Access to contraceptive information and services is essential for the health and human rights of every person.
Preventing unintended pregnancies significantly reduces maternal health complications and the incidence of pregnancy-related fatalities. It is particularly crucial to delay pregnancies in young girls, who are at a higher risk of health issues associated with early childbirth, as well as to prevent pregnancies in older women who also face increased health risks. These are vital health advantages of family planning.
By decreasing the occurrence of unintended pregnancies, contraception diminishes the necessity for unsafe abortions and lowers the transmission of HIV from mothers to their infants. This not only enhances educational opportunities for girls but also enables women to engage more fully in society, including in the workforce.
As of 2017, it was estimated that 214 million women of reproductive age in developing regions have an unmet need for contraceptive services. Contributing factors include: Limited access to contraceptive options, a restricted variety of methods, concerns or past experiences with side effects and cultural or religious objections. Also poor quality of available services and Gender-related obstacles.