Contraception Could Save the World Billions of Dollars

The world economy would be boosted by USD 5.7 billion of dollars if all women had access to contraception, according to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA; New York, NY, USA) annual State of World Population report.

According to the report, inadequate family planning in developing countries contributed significantly to poverty and ill health; with around 222 million women currently having insufficient access to contraceptives, largely in the poorest countries. Despite the fact that billions could be saved by preventing unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions, and an array of economic benefits that could be promoted by family planning, global funding for family planning has declined and an extra USD 4.1 billion would be needed each year to fund contraceptives for everyone who needs them in developing countries.

Donor contributions fell USD 500 million short of what was needed and expected in 2010. The result is that contraceptive use has hardly increased in recent years. There are signs, however, that the issue is being addressed. In July 2012, donor countries and foundations pledged an additional USD 2.6 billion dollars at a special summit in London to half the unmet need for family planning by 2020. Developing countries pledged an additional USD 2 billion.

The report cites studies that have shown that investing in voluntary family planning reduces poverty, increases participation of women in both education and the workforce, and creating wealthier households as the number of children in each home decreases. The result is higher incomes for families and improved prosperity for countries. On the other hand, failure to enable women to make free and informed decisions about their own reproduction is a serious brake on social and economic development.

“Family planning is not a privilege, but a right. Yet, too many women—and men—are denied this human right,” said Babatunde Osotimehin, the former Nigerian health minister and executive director of UNFPA. “The data that we have shows that access to family planning unlocks unprecedented rewards, both at the individual and national level. Women who have access to family planning can contribute enormously to economic development. The accumulated effect of these highly personal decisions can influence entire countries and regions.”

The report calls for health systems to be strengthened, and extending family planning made a key plank of the global development agenda that will follow the Millennium Development Goals after 2015, so that it remains a global priority. All countries must be encouraged, and helped, to step up efforts to educate communities about the benefits of giving women a genuine choice over family planning, and reinforcing the rights-based approach to family planning.

Related Links:
UN Population Fund