Greater efforts needed to meet international family planning goals

Kolkata, Jan 17: Women and girls have a human right to choose whether and when to become pregnant.

When they do not have access to high quality contraceptive and fertility care services and information to help them plan their families, their health and well-being can suffer.
Family planning allows spacing of pregnancies and can delay pregnancies in young women at increased risk of health problems and death from early childbearing.
Evidence suggests that women who have more than 4 children are at increased risk of maternal mortality. Contraception prevents unintended pregnancies, and therefore also helps to reduce the need for unsafe abortion.
Promotion of family planning – and ensuring access to preferred contraceptive methods for women and couples – is essential to securing the well-being and autonomy of women, while supporting the health and development of communities.
Family planning can prevent closely spaced and ill-timed pregnancies and births, which contribute to some of the world’s highest infant mortality rates. Infants of mothers who die as a result of giving birth also have a greater risk of death and poor health.
Family planning reduces the risk of unintended pregnancies among women living with HIV, resulting in fewer infected babies and orphans. In addition, male and female condoms provide dual protection against unintended pregnancies and against STIs including HIV.
Family planning enables people to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health. Family planning represents an opportunity for women to pursue additional education and participate in public life, including paid employment in non-family organizations. UNI