Despite COVID-19, new report shows rise 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 seek and use family planning products and services.

That was according to the 2022 Family Planning (FP) Measurement Report released Wednesday by FP2030, a global initiative.

The report, which was first presented in November 2022 at the International Conference on FP, indicates that the use of modern contraception is on the rise around the world.

This shows that around 371 million women of reproductive age in low- and lower-middle-income (LMIC) countries are using a modern method of contraception, up from 87 million more than just a decade ago.

The report's findings further show that one in three women of reproductive age in LMICs choose to use modern contraception.

The report noted that throughout the restrictive lockdowns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, record numbers of people around the world continued to find ways to access FP services.

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

Ms. Dube said these obstacles – wars, political upheaval, natural disasters, deadly epidemics and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic, have made it difficult for people to access health services.< /p>

She said, however, that despite these challenges, women around the world continued to seek and use modern contraception in ever-increasing numbers.

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

"Family planning is the key to reducing maternal deaths; it's the difference between finishing high school and getting married and parenting early; and it can unlock a woman's economic survival and prosperity," she said.

She said that family planning aims to increase the ability and freedom of individuals to exercise power in their own lineage.

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

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

However, this indicates that unmet need is still high in both regions and for both populations. In most of the 15 countries surveyed, 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 more needs to be done to meet the needs of women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa.

Mr. Bremner said that if the growing demand is not met by high-quality services, a steady supply of contraceptives, and supportive policies and funding, it will be a missed opportunity for m...