Contraceptive Prevalence

According to the World Health Organization, contraceptive prevalence is an indicator related to population, development, health, and women’s empowerment. The concept also measures the access to reproductive health services delivered by family planning programs, aimed at enhancing maternal health, reducing child mortality, preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs, including HIV/AIDS), and promoting a more gender-balanced responsibility for the consequences of sexual life. Effective use of contraception during the reproductive life course indicates [Page 294]the capability of a woman or a couple to control their fertility in such a way that they can prevent unintended pregnancies, by limiting and spacing them. When a woman or a couple decide to stop or delay childbearing but do not use any effective method of contraception, they acquire an unmet need ...