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A new study by the Guttmacher Institute and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, finds that the number of women in developing countries who want to avoid pregnancy but are not using modern contraception declined only slightly between 2008 and 2012, from 226 to 222 million. However, in the 69 poorest countries  where 73 per cent of all women with unmet need for modern contraceptives reside  the number actually increased, from 153 to 162 million women.

The report, Adding It Up: Costs and Benefits of Contraceptive Services  Estimates for 2012 finds 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. However, about half of the increase is due to population growth rather than to a higher rate of contraceptive use. 

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 need for modern contraceptive methods would cost $8.1 billion per year. This additional $4.1 billion investment would save another $5.7 billion, or $1.40 for every dollar spent.  

“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. “The gap between the demand for family planning and the availability of services must be bridged, starting with the most vulnerable  poor women, rural women and young people, upon whom our future rests.”

The effects of filling the current unmet need for modern contraceptive methods would be dramatic.  

1.       Unintended pregnancies would decline by two-thirds, from 80 million to 26 million.

2.       There would be 26 million fewer abortions (including 16 million fewer unsafe procedures).

3.       There would be 21 million fewer unplanned births.

4.       Seven million fewer miscarriages would occur.

5.       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.

6.       There would be 1.1 million fewer infant deaths.  

 

Click here to read the two-page summary of key findings: Costs and Benefits of Investing in Contraceptive Services in the Developing World  Français / Russian / Arabic  / Espanõl

Click here to read the full report: Adding It Up: Costs and Benefits of Contraceptive Services — Estimates for 2012 Français / Russian / Arabic  / Espanõl

The Guttmacher Institute  www.guttmacher.org  advances sexual and reproductive health worldwide through research, policy analysis and public education.