Trends in contraceptive use

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Demography
• Global Health

Background:

• Family size desires and actual family size have decreased globally over the past 50-60 years.
• Contraceptive use has risen, particularly in developing nations, yet significant unmet needs persist.
• Unintended pregnancies and unmet needs for modern contraceptives remain a global public health concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine trends in contraceptive use, unmet need, and unintended pregnancies worldwide.
• To analyze regional variations in contraceptive method preferences.
• To highlight the consequences of unmet need for modern contraception.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data compiled by the United Nations.
• Review of information from national surveys of women of reproductive age.
• Examination of global trends in family planning.

Main Results:

• Contraceptive method preferences vary regionally: oral contraceptives and condoms in developed countries; sterilization in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia; hormonal methods in Africa.
• An estimated 222 million women in developing countries have an unmet need for modern contraceptives.
• In 2012, unmet need resulted in approximately 54 million unintended pregnancies and 79,000 preventable maternal deaths.

Conclusions:

• Significant improvements are required in contraceptive information and services.
• Enhancements to contraceptive methods themselves are necessary.
• Addressing unmet need is vital for enabling couples to achieve their desired family size and timing.