Worldwide, more than 160 million women did not have access to contraception in 2019 when they needed it to avoid pregnancy. Differences exist according to geographical areas.
- The share of women of childbearing age using modern methods of contraception has increased from 28% in 1970 to 48% in 2019.
- The authors estimate that 1.2 billion women of childbearing age worldwide need contraception.
In 2019, more than 160 million women did not have access to contraception when they needed it, according to a study published in the scientific journal The Lancet. Among them, 43.2 million were between 15 and 24 years old. But this lack is not the same in all regions of the world.
From 15 to 49 years old
To achieve this result, the researchers studied data from more than 1,100 surveys carried out in more than 200 countries between 1970 and 2019. They listed the means of contraception used by women – in a couple or single – of childbearing age. , i.e. from 15 to 49 years old. Participants provided this information declaratively.
Thus, scientists have discovered that more than 160 million women – precisely 162.9 million – have an unmet need for contraception. Of these, 29.3% lived in Africa and 27.2% in South Asia.
88% contraceptive rate in Norway
Researchers have differentiated between ancient and modern contraceptives, i.e. oral contraceptive pills, IUDs or intrauterine devices or male and female sterilization.
Thus, they note that women living in countries of Southeast Asia, East Asia and Oceania use more modern contraceptives than those living in sub-Saharan Africa: the rates of use are respectively 65% against 24%. The lowest rate is recorded in South Sudan (2%) and the highest in Norway (88%).
Definitive methods
Another lesson from scientists: it is older women who resort to female sterilization, that is to say a permanent method. Teenage girls and young women tend to choose short-acting methods such as oral contraceptive pills.
“Although there has been considerable progress in the availability of contraceptives since the 1970s, there is still a long way to go to ensure that every woman and adolescent can have access to the contraception of her choice.x”, estimates Annie Haakenstad, one of the authors of the study.