Adding It Up: Costs and Benefits of Contraceptive Services Estimates for 2012

This report, produced by Guttmacher Institute and United Nations Population Fund, provides estimates of the numbers and proportions of women in low-income countries who are using modern methods and in need of modern contraception.  Estimates on the cost and impact of meeting this need are also provided.The report identifies both short and long term benefits of improved access to contraceptives.  As outlined, increasing contraceptive prevalence will reduce unintended pregnancies, enable women and couples to control family size and time pregnancies, and prevent many deaths and disabilities related to pregnancy.  In addition, the report also identifies wider benefits to society such as increased education for women, improved child health, lower rates of population growth and stronger national economies. This report presents estimates for all low-income countries, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania. Need for and use of contraceptive services

• More than half of all women of reproductive age in low-income countries are in need of modern contraceptives
• Since 2000, some countries, such as Ethiopia and Malawi, have seen rapid increases in contraceptive prevalence
• In Nigeria, contraceptive prevalence remains less than 10% and has been slow to increase since 2000
• The number of women using modern methods has increased by 42 million since 2008; however, half of this increase is due to population growth 

Costs and benefits of meeting the need for modern contraception

• Spending money on contraceptive services helps women avoid unintended pregnancies and has large health, social and economic benefits
• Fully meeting the need for modern contraception in low-income countries would cost a total of $8.1 billion (2012)
• 79,000 maternal deaths and 1.1 million infants deaths could be prevented by meeting the need for modern contraception
• Fully meeting the need for modern contraception in low-income countries would prevent an additional 54 million unintended pregnancies, 21 million unplanned births, 26 million abortions (of which 16 million would be unsafe) and seven million miscarriages 

Conclusion

• Improved efforts are needed to increase access to meet women’s need for modern contraception, especially for vulnerable group
• Women who are poor, less educated, unmarried, or living in rural areas continue to face the largest barriers in obtaining contraception
• Meeting the need for modern contraception will require increased financial commitment from governments and other stakeholders 

To read the full report, click here.Singh, S., & Darroch, J. E. (2012). Adding It Up : Costs and Benefits of Contraceptive Services Estimates for 2012. New York: Guttmacher Institute and United Nations Population Fund.