More Ugandan women are using contraceptives

Nov 13, 2018

The report estimates that a total of 1,036,000 unintended pregnancies and 228,000 abortions have been prevented due to the use of modern methods of contraception.

FAMILY PLANNING|REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

The latest Family Planning 2020(FP2020) report shows that about 2.8 million women aged 15-49 are currently using modern contraceptives. 


This is at least one million more users compared to the trend five years ago.

As such, the country has averted unsafe abortions that would have occurred as a result of unwanted pregnancies.

The report estimates that a total of 1,036,000 unintended pregnancies and 228,000 abortions have been prevented due to the use of modern methods of contraception. 

Titled: "FP2020: Catalyzing Collaboration", the publication was released on Monday November 12, 2018 during the  International Conference on Family Planning, in Kigali, Rwanda.

It shows that Uganda ranks 15th among the 69 lowest income countries that are making strides annually in contraceptive growth.

Stakeholders particularly hailed the country for its annual domestic funding commitment of up to US$ 2.2 Million  to procure different methods. 

However, they quickly observed that there was need to do more, considering that there is a still a high unmet need for family planning.

"Uganda is making impressive strides. But there is still more that needs to be done especially on how to reach young people," Beth Schlachter, the executive director of FP 2020 told the New Vision.

"It is a big cultural issue to talk to young people about this topic. What we need to understand is what they need. Why are they sexually active? Is it the pressure? We need to realise that they need the tools to protect themselves. They shouldn't be punished just because they are young," she added.

FP 2020 is a leading global partnership that supports the rights of women and girls to decide freely and for themselves --whether, when and how many children they want to have .

Details show that women prefer injectable methods of contraception followed by condoms and pills respectively.

  cross section of participants A cross section of participants

 
The FP2020 analysis shows how better access to family planning can deliver a powerful demographic dividend that can help transform economies, as birth rates drop and the ratio of adult to dependent children increases. With fewer dependents to support, a country can invest more in education, infrastructure and other development indicators, it stresses.

Globally, more than 317 million women and girls are now choosing to use a modern methods of contraception, showing a 30 percent rise. However,  with barely two years to 2020, experts have expressed worry that several countries might not achieve the goals set during the family planning London summit in 2012.

Schlachter  observed that women still need detailed information about contraceptive options to make an informed choice.

"Women represent half of the world population and there can be no healthy population globally without reproductive health care."

"Family Planning empowers women and empowered women are economic dynamos: joining the labour force, starting their own businesses and investing in their communities. This sparks a ripple effect for the society, hence driving productivity, prosperity and sustainability," Schlachter explained further.

Dr. Natalia Kanem, the executive director of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) agreed and said: "For every one US dollar spent on family planning, it brings benefits worth 120 dollars."

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