Despite COVID-19, new report shows increase in contraceptive use

Despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on national health systems and global supply chains, many people around the world continue to demand and use family products and services.

This is according 2022 measurement report on Family Planning (FP) was released on Wednesday by FP2030, a global initiative.

The report, which was first previewed in November 2022 at the International Conference on FP, shows that the use of modern contraceptives is increasing worldwide.

This shows that approximately 371 million women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) use modern contraceptive methods compared to 87 million more than just ten years ago.

Findings from the report show that one in three women of reproductive age in LMIC choose to use modern contraception.

The report notes that throughout the restrictive lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing numbers of people around the world continue to find ways to access FP services.

Overcome the challenge

Speaking at a press briefing to highlight the report’s findings, the Executive Director of FP2030, Samukeliso Dube, said the past 10 years have been full of challenges for the health system.

Ms Dube said these barriers – war, political upheaval, natural disasters, deadly disease outbreaks, and most recently the COVID-19 pandemic, made it difficult for people to access health services.

However, she said despite these challenges, women around the world continue to seek out and use modern contraception in ever-growing numbers.

Ms. Dube said the latest report shows how unstoppable the demand for modern contraception is, as women want to control whether and when they want to have children, and how many children.

“Family planning is the key to reducing maternal mortality; it is the difference between finishing high school and entering early marriage and parenthood; and it can unlock the economic survival and well-being of women,” he said.

He said that family planning is about developing the ability and freedom of individuals to exercise power in their own lines.

Demand is high in sub-Saharan Africa

A new report analyzes contraceptive use in 15 African countries; Benin, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda.

This shows that contraceptive use among married and unmarried sexually active women aged 15-24 is generally higher in East and Southern Africa than in West Africa.

However, it shows that unmet needs are still high in the region and for both populations. In most of the 15 countries studied, more than one in five sexually active young women (aged 15-24) have an unmet need for contraception.

Senior Director of Data and Measurement, FP2030, Jason Bremner, said much work remains to be done when it comes to meeting the needs of women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa.

Mr Bremner said if rising demand was not met by high-quality services, consistent contraceptive supplies, and supportive policies and funding, it would be a missed opportunity for millions of women.

She said the report also found women’s marital status to influence how they used contraception.

“Young married women aged 15-24 are found to rely on short-acting methods such as injections and pills and obtain these from government facilities, while most sexually active unmarried women aged 15-24 rely on condoms and obtain them from private health sources,” he added.

Develop progress

Ms Dube, the executive director of FP2030, said failure to adequately fund FP efforts would be a missed opportunity for millions of women.

He said the world must not only hold the line but also secure new funding to accommodate the rising demand for family planning.

“The gains we have won in the last 10 years could be lost if we don’t act now,” he said.

Ms Dube reiterated that it is time to “go bigger, be bolder, and ensure there is a reliable, steady, stable flow of funds to finance the FP program.”

He points out that donor government funding for family planning is not keeping up with the growing demand for modern contraceptives.

He said that bilateral donor funding will be around $1.4 billion in 2021, which is largely flat compared to 2020 and lower than the peak achieved in 2019 (US$1.52 billion).

“Due to the current financial instability and inflationary trends around the world, there may be funding cuts in the future,” he said.

About FP2030

FP2030 is a global initiative that supports the reproductive rights of women and girls. It is the successor to FP2020, an initiative that ran from 2012 to 2020.

During these eight years, FP2020 has emerged as the leading platform for family planning, providing an unparalleled space for stakeholders to gather, align, share knowledge, broker resources, and advance the field. FP2030 builds on and develops these works.