Key Facts:
In 2021, out of 1.9 billion women aged 15–49 worldwide, 1.1 billion have a need for family planning.
Among them, 874 million use modern contraceptive methods, while 164 million have an unmet need for contraception.
Globally, the proportion of family planning needs satisfied by modern methods remained at around 77% between 2015 and 2022 but increased from 52% to 58% in sub-Saharan Africa.
Condoms are the only contraceptive method that can prevent both pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
Contraception promotes the human right to determine family size and spacing.
Overview:
Contraception methods vary and should be chosen based on individual health, age, sexual activity, number of partners, desire for future children, and family medical history. Ensuring access to preferred contraceptive methods is fundamental to human rights, including life, liberty, freedom of choice, opinion, expression, work, and education. It also offers significant health and societal benefits.
Impact:
Contraception prevents pregnancy-related health risks, especially among adolescent girls. Short interbirth intervals have been linked to a 60% higher risk of infant death. Contraception provides non-health benefits such as expanded educational opportunities for women, empowerment, sustainable population growth, and economic development for countries.
Statistics:
The number of women desiring family planning has grown from 900 million in 2000 to nearly 1.1 billion in 2021.
Between 2000 and 2020, women using modern contraceptives increased from 663 million to 851 million.
An additional 70 million women are projected to use modern contraception by 2030.
The global contraceptive prevalence rate increased from 47.7% to 49.0% between 2000 and 2020.
In 2022, 77.5% of women of reproductive age have their family planning needs satisfied with modern methods, a 10% increase since 1990 (67%).
Barriers:
Reasons for slow progress include limited method choices, restricted access, especially for young, poorer, and unmarried individuals, concerns about side effects, cultural or religious opposition, poor service quality, bias against certain methods, and gender-based barriers.
Addressing these issues in some regions has led to increased demand satisfied with modern contraception.
Contraceptive Methods:
Contraception methods encompass pills, implants, injectables, patches, vaginal rings, intrauterine devices, condoms, sterilization, lactational amenorrhea, withdrawal, and fertility awareness-based methods. These methods vary in effectiveness, classified as very effective, effective, moderately effective, or less effective.
WHO Response:
Achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health services aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
WHO produces evidence-based guidelines for contraceptive safety and service delivery, emphasizing human rights.
WHO supports countries in implementing these tools, adapting policies and programs.
WHO contributes to developing new contraceptive technologies and conducts implementation research to expand access and strengthen services.
Efforts to enhance contraception and family planning contribute to health, gender equality, and human rights worldwide.
