The global view of reproductive health

Reproductive health is a condition in which the reproductive process is accomplished in a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and is not merely the absence of disease or disorders of the reproductive process. The Daily Reproductive Health News in our global village does not paint a bright picture. The past few decades have witnessed a revolution in reproductive behaviour, with a major expansion in contraceptive use in developing countries. Between 1960-65 and 1985-90, the number of contraceptive users in all developing countries has increased from an estimate of 31 million to 381 million. The major expansion in contraceptive use in developing countries has consequences for the quality of life, for the present and for the future, for the society at large and for the individuals and their families. Major challenges, however, still lie ahead. There is a major unmet need for family planning. The rhetoric about population and family planning is not matched by allocation of resources.