family planning in the philippines essay

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Addressing Misconceptions About Family Planning in the Philippines to Drive Change

The family planning advocacy resource hub, all partnerships and resources.

The Philippines has the largest annual population growth rate in Southeast Asia, with family sizes and birth rates that are among the region’s highest. In 2016, two million pregnancies occurred to Filipino women who wanted to wait to have more children or stop having children altogether. Yet, more than two-thirds of married women use less effective, short-acting contraceptive methods, such as pills or condoms.

PRB partnered with The Forum for Family Planning & Development, Inc. , in the Philippines to create a suite of products to address misinformation about family planning methods and convince policymakers to fund family planning services.

• A video highlights the state of family planning in the Philippines. It also emphasizes the need to provide universal access to a full range of contraceptive methods and provide reproductive health education and counseling for women and their partners.
• Infographics outline available contraceptive options, their effectiveness, and common misconceptions about oral contraceptives, implants, injectables, and intrauterine devices.
• A fact sheet targeting policymakers emphasizes the need to transition political support for family planning into tangible action.

The State of Family Planning in the Philippines

PHL Billboards Implants Fertility

Fact Sheet: Transitioning Political Support for Family Planning Into Action in the Philippines

Infographic. Combined Oral Contraceptive

Infographic. Contraceptive Implant

Infographic. Injectable Contraceptive

Infographic. Intrauterine Device (IUD)

Inside the Philippines’ long journey towards reproductive health

PhD candidate in Medical Anthropology, Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR), University of Amsterdam

Disclosure statement

Gideon Lasco does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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On January 9 2017, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order calling for universal access to modern family planning methods. The document also called for accelerated implementation of the country’s Reproductive Health Law .

Popularly known as the “RH law”, the measure was passed in 2012 but was suspended by the Supreme Court , following objections from religious groups that alleged the law violated the rights to religion and free speech.

Duterte’s order was welcomed even by some of his fiercest critics. Human Rights Watch, for instance, called it a “bright spot in the administration’s otherwise horrendous human rights record via its abusive ‘war on drugs’”. Aside from promoting family planning, the RH law covers wide-ranging provisions for emergency obstetric care, sex education, and maternal and child health.

But the very fact that such seemingly anodyne health matters even have to be affirmed attests to the contested nature of reproductive health issues in the Philippines. Just one day after Duterte signed the executive order, Luis Cardinal Tagle, Manila’s archbishop, reiterated that the Church “is against any law that promotes both natural and artificial family planning methods.”

Politically and morally contentious

Viewed in a broader historical frame, the ongoing debate is a continuation of the Philippines’ long journey towards reproductive health - and its having been turned into a political and moral issue by various actors . It’s also inexorably bound to the Church’s long-running enmeshment in the politics of a country where 80% of the people are, at least nominally, Catholic .

The Catholic Church’s opposition to population control and artificial contraception goes beyond the Philippine’s shores. Pope Paul VI’s _Humanae Vitae _ (1968) made the Church’s stance a matter of dogma, and it has since been affirmed by successive popes .

Initially, the Church’s stand didn’t seem to have much of an impact on Philippine policy. Just a year after Humanae Vitae , then-president Ferndinand Marcos established a Population Commission that sought to control population growth.

And in 1973, a new, Marcos-backed constitution called on the government “to achieve and maintain population levels most conducive to the national welfare.”

But the situation changed in the 1980s, when the people turned against Marcos’ corrupt and authoritarian government (which, it should pointed out, ultimately proved ineffective in its population control efforts). The Church was instrumental in the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution that deposed and forced Marcos into exile.

The new president, Cory Aquino, was much more pliant to the Church’s wishes. The 1987 “Cory Constitution” enshrined “the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception”. Tellingly, it omitted any reference to population control.

A succession of presidents would continue to toe the Church’s line. Gloria Arroyo - another beneficiary of a Church-backed “revolution” - would be the most ardent, making it state policy to promote only “natural” family planning methods . This was despite scientific consensus that such methods are ineffective , and the fact that a majority of Filipinos actually support artificial contraception .

Regardless of presidents’ acquiescence to the Church, support for an RH law slowly but steadily grew. In 1999, the first of many RH bills was filed in Congress . Ironically, it was Cory’s son Benigno Aquino III (Arroyo’s successor), who ultimately got the law passed .

Duterte, who took over from Aquino in 2016, was equally vocal in his support for reproductive health. In his first national address , he stressed that the RH law should be implemented “so that couples especially the poor will have freedom of informed choice on the number and spacing of children.”

Growing population, rising HIV

The politics of the RH Law notwithstanding, its rationale in the Philippines are quite clear.

Population growth remains very high. From 31.7 million when Marcos took office in 1965 , it is expected that there will be 105 million Filipinos by the end of 2017 - an astounding tripling in just over 50 years.

Economists agree that while “poverty is a complex phenomenon”, “rapid population growth and high fertility rates, especially among the poor, do exacerbate poverty and make it harder for the government to address it.” In 2012, 30 economists from the University of the Philippines affirmed the role of the RH bill in population growth and consequently in poverty reduction.

In addition, there is an alarming increase in HIV infection rates that makes the Philippines one of the few countries to actually register growing prevalence. HIV prevention is actually the health ministry’s main rationale for condom distribution and promotion . But that too is unacceptable to anti-RH advocates who argue that it would breed immorality .

Moving forward

Some observers have noted that the Church’s infuence in Philippine politics is waning , citing its failure to stop the RH law. But while its power may have diminished, it remains an important political actor.

In the same month as Duterte’s executive order, the Department of Education announced that it would block the distribution of condoms in schools, caving in to pressure from the Church . The RH Law itself, in an attempt to appease the Church, includes “natural methods” and “responsible parenthood” in its language, and mentions “religious convictions” seven times.

Is there a chance that the Church will change its position? Pope Francis’ recent pronouncement that contraception is a “lesser evil” than abortion - at least in cases of Zika - raised some hope. Ultimately, however, his statement was rightfully seen as a change in tone - not in substance .

Judging from the Philippine bishops’ latest rhetoric , which casts contraceptive use as “immoral”, it’s highly unlikely that the Church will change its mind.

Even so, the fact that two presidents - belonging to two opposing political camps - have supported reproductive health raises hopes that it is becoming a post-political, post-ecclesiastical issue.

After a long journey, there’s reason to hope that the RH law will finally be implemented in full in the Philippines, and with it, badly-needed population and HIV control programs.

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Responsible Parenthood: 18 Family Planning Methods You Should Know About

• September 18, 2020

Parenthood is an experience unlike any other. Anyone who is dreaming of building his/her own family someday should know that maintaining the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of the child will be one of his/her biggest responsibilities. Unfortunately, not all children can experience the privilege of growing up in an ideal family environment. Intimacy is vital for a couple, but unexpected pregnancies can severely affect relationships, bring about difficulties in a child’s upbringing, and cause various complications in the future. To steer clear of these consequences, family planning is crucial. Practice responsible parenthood to ensure the well-being of children. To help couples have a long, happy, and healthy family life, the guide below will discuss the different types of family planning methods.

It has been years since former President Benigno S. Aquino III signed the Reproductive Health (RH) Law. As of 2019, contraceptive use in the Philippines stands at  40% ,  which is still a long way to go from the government’s goal of 65% by 2020. To reach this milestone, health and medical professionals must educate the public about family planning and responsible parenthood.

Thanks to advancements in medical technology, people now have access to different types of family planning methods. However, most people are unaware of these innovations and unconsciously limit themselves to condoms, medication such as birth control pills, and risky measures like withdrawal.

At the same time, they are unaware of how to properly perform these methods and end up getting an unplanned pregnancy. 

For the road to parenthood to go smoothly, family planning is a must. The guide below will discuss 18 family planning methods available today.

1. Abstinence –  Pregnancy cannot happen without intercourse. Complete disengagement from all forms of sexual activity is the most straightforward measure of avoiding it. 

2. Birth Control Implant –  The birth control implant is administered by a health professional. The doctor will inject hormones called progestin into the arm of the woman to prevent pregnancy for a few years.

3. Birth Control Pills –  These are packs of hormone medication ingested by females daily. Available in pharmacies, these hormone-filled pills are designed to stop fertility.

4. Birth Control Patch –  It is a wearable contraceptive that contains estrogen and progestin. Once worn and absorbed by the body, the hormones thicken the mucus of the cervix to hinder ovulation.

5. Birth Control Shot –  A series of hormonal injections that prevent ovulation and thicken cervical mucus; these shots will only be effective if they are administered every three months.

6. Birth Control Sponge –  A soft plastic inserted inside the vagina before intercourse; the sponge covers the cervix and prevents the sperm from reaching the egg.

7. Birth Control Vaginal Ring –  It is a small flexible ring inserted inside the vagina that stops sperm cells from merging with an egg.

8. Breastfeeding –  Due to the secretion of specific hormones, women who are breastfeeding generally do not ovulate. Engaging in intercourse during this period  under certain conditions  will prevent unplanned pregnancies.

9. Cervical Cap –  It is a small and soft device made out of silicone inserted inside the vagina.

10. Diaphragm –  Similar to the cervical cap, the diaphragm is a cup-shaped device designed to cover the cervix.

11. Internal/Female Condom –  It is a soft and elastic pouch inserted inside the vagina that creates a barrier against sperm. The outer ring covers the vaginal opening.

12. Intrauterine Device (IUD) –  It is a tiny, T-shaped plastic device inserted in the uterus and is one of the most effective contraceptive methods. This device impairs the movement of sperm cells within the vaginal canal and prevents them from reaching the ovary.

13. Male Condom –  This thin, elastic, and stretchable cover is one of the most common and widely available contraceptives. This is worn on the penis during intercourse to prevent the sperm from meeting the egg.

14. Rhythm Method –  Also known as the calendar method, this requires couples to abstain from sexual activity during fertile periods of the female.

15. Spermicide –  It comes in the form of a gel or cream that is applied to the vagina before intercourse. Usually paired with other devices such as a cervical cap, this product contains properties that eliminate sperm.

16. Sterilization –  It is a surgical procedure performed on females that can temporarily or permanently close the fallopian tubes to prevent ovulation.

17. Vasectomy –  A surgical operation performed on males that cuts tubes inside the scrotum; this permanent contraception for men prevents sperm from leaving the body. ​ 18. Withdrawal –  It is the process of pulling out the penis from the vagina before ejaculation, preventing sperm from reaching the egg during intercourse.

Benefits of Family Planning

The main benefit of family planning is that it helps governments regulate the population of the country. By adding  sexual education  (sex ed) to the curriculum, teens can be taught early on about sexual responsibility and the consequences of unwanted pregnancy. While sex ed is taught in developed nations, developing countries have a lot of catching up to do.

Given that the Philippines is home to over  100 million  people, family planning is the best way to mitigate the consequences brought upon by overpopulation. Since sex ed in the country is limited, it is estimated that  200,000  out of 2 million births in the Philippines are from teenage pregnancies. To prevent this statistic from rising, spreading awareness is the key.

In a household setting, family planning can bring about many benefits. Bearing a child is a huge responsibility, and being financially unprepared can compromise the short- and long-term security and stability of the family. In terms of health, planning a partner’s pregnancy with the help of medical professionals will also help prevent health complications.

From an emotional standpoint, family planning can strengthen the bond of a couple. The journey of pregnancy to giving birth in a  delivery room  is no easy feat, and the process of raising a child may be one of the biggest tests in a couple’s relationship. Practicing responsible parenthood by planning together will undoubtedly fortify the union in the years to come. 

Practice Responsible Parenthood

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Reproductive Health

Family planning studies in the philippines: a review and synthesis.

Virginia Miralao

Document Type

Publication date.

This report, which summarizes the major study findings on population and family planning (FP) trends in the Philippines, was prepared for the Research Unit of the Family Planning Services (FPS) of the Department of Health (DOH). It was used by the FPS in its National Consultative Planning Workshop in early 1994 to formulate plans for the Philippine Family Planning Program for 1994–1995. Workshop participants included DOH Regional Family Planning Coordinators, representatives of local government offices engaged in population and health activities, and local NGOs and women's groups. The report alerted participants to population and FP issues and trends that could assist them in formulating their FP program targets and strategies in their own areas and localities. Study findings are organized into those relating to indicators of demand, and those bearing on the supply of FP services. Considering the large number of population and FP studies that have been made to date, this review limits itself to a presentation of related trends in fertility and FP awareness, approval, and use over time. The report provides a backdrop for the formulation and implementation of local action plans to advance the national FP program.

Recommended Citation

Miralao, Virginia. 1994. "Family planning studies in the Philippines: A review and synthesis," Asia & Near East Operations Research and Technical Assistance Project Final Report. Manila: Population Council and Philippine Social Science Council.

10.31899/rh1994.1004

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• v.6(11); 2017 Nov

Family Planning as a Possible Measure to Alleviate Poverty in the Philippines – Beyond Sociocultural Norms and Pervasive Opposition

Akihiko ozaki.

1 Department of Surgery, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan.

2 Graduate School of Public Health, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan.

Angeli Guadalupe

3 Department of Pediatrics, Brokenshire Memorial Hospital, Davao City, Philippines.

Arra Barrameda Saquido

4 Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Malate Manila, Philippines.

Diana Francesca Gepte

5 College of Medicine, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Asaka Higuchi

6 Department of Hematology, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Tomohiro Morita

7 Department of Internal Medicine, Soma Central Hospital, Fukushima, Japan.

Tetsuya Tanimoto

8 Department of Internal Medicine, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Fukushima, Japan.

Dear Editor,

The 16th and current President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, aims to resolve poverty as a critical agenda. Although annual growth rate of the Philippine gross domestic product exceeded 5% since 2012, the estimated proportion of people living below the poverty threshold (2015) was 21.6% (22 million out of 100 million). Indeed, a significant economic disparity exists as demonstrated in its GINI index of 43.0 in 2013, a level higher than most Southeast Asian countries. Additionally, although the average total fertility rate in 2008 was 3.3 in the Philippines, its number reaches as high as 5.2 in the poorest household that is estimated to spend only around 2% of their total income on education. 1 Actually, the children aged 6-17 in poorest households were less likely to attend school compared to those in richest households in 2011 (85.6% vs. 97.2%). 2 As such, it has been hypothesized that there may be strong links among high fertility rate, poverty and limited opportunities of education in the country.

Given these speculations, President Duterte highlights the importance of population control using modern family planning measures in his war on poverty. However, the inadequate sexual health education and conservative sociocultural norms prove to be significant obstacles, as methods of contraception are widely disrespected by the general population. The Philippines is predominantly Catholic, whereby 80% of the local population subscribes to the teachings of the Church. Although constitutionally there is a separation of the Church and State, the Church remains influential in defining policies particularly in areas of reproductive health. Presently, abortion is prohibited in their constitution except for cases conducted to protect mothers’ health.

However, in reality, abortifacient agents are illegally sold in stalls adjacent to several Catholic cathedrals in Manila. Additionally, the lowest rate of condom use in Southeast Asia and increasing rate of casual sex contribute a considerable burden of sexually transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 3 The reported number of HIV infections is currently 30 000, 80% of which have been newly registered since 2010. 3 Further, the emerging risk of Zika virus infection or rubella would present a challenging situation to pregnant women. 4

Under such conditions, there is a growing need that policymakers and public health professionals take into account the changing attitudes towards sexual intercourses among the general population in the country.

In 2012, Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act, also known as Reproductive Health Law, was enacted in the Philippines to improve an access to birth control measures after years of struggle. 5 Although its constitutionality was questioned by the Supreme Court in 2013, the court finally declared that the law was constitutional in 2014. 5 However, Temporary Restraining Order, which was subsequently issued by the Supreme Court, has restricted (1) the registration of new contraceptives and the re-registration of currently sold contraceptives when their permits expire, and (2) the purchase, distribution and use of subdermal implants by the Department of Health, eventually hampering the full implementation of the law until now. 6 It is obvious that the current situation necessitates an early resolution, considering that there will be limited contraceptive measures available in the Philippines, such as tubal ligation, vasectomy and natural family planning methods, if the restraining order is not lifted and the current registration of contraceptives expire. 6 We urge President Duterte to achieve a historic step to further improve healthcare in the Philippines – the full implementation of the Reproductive Health Law.

Ethical issues

Not applicable.

Competing interests

Authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

AO wrote the manuscript. All authors conceptualized and designed the study, and revised the paper.

Authors’ affiliations

1 Department of Surgery, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan. 2 Graduate School of Public Health, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan. 3 Department of Pediatrics, Brokenshire Memorial Hospital, Davao City, Philippines. 4 Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Malate Manila, Philippines. 5 College of Medicine, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Metro Manila, Philippines. 6 Department of Hematology, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. 7 Department of Internal Medicine, Soma Central Hospital, Fukushima, Japan. 8 Department of Internal Medicine, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Fukushima, Japan.

Citation: Ozaki A, Guadalupe A, Saquido AB, et al. Family planning as a possible measure to alleviate poverty in the Philippines – beyond sociocultural norms and pervasive opposition. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2017;6(11):683–684. doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2017.57

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Access to family planning critical for the Philippines

calendar_today 10 May 2018

ISABELA, Philippines – Gathering in a light green painted basketball court, surrounded by coconut and banana trees, 24-year-old Joan Calamayan and 50 other young women wanted to learn about family planning and the services available in the Philippine village of Kalabaza.

“Today we are going to talk about how to plan the timing and size of your families,” said reproductive health facilitator Benjamin Lucas. He is part of a UNFPA-supported project, launched in August 2017, to provide women access to an expanded number of contraceptive choices.  

Around him, the young women and their families, many of whom had walked from far-flung villages, listened intently as he discussed different types of contraceptives.

“I have three children. An 8-year-old, a 5-year-old and a one-year-old,” said Ms. Calamayan.  “I do not want to get pregnant anymore.”

She is not alone. In the Philippines, 49 per cent of unmarried, sexually active women, and 17 per cent of married women have an unmet need for family planning, according to the  2017 National Demographic and Health Survey .

In June 2015, the Philippine Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order that prevented the Department of Health from procuring, distributing and administering contraceptive implants. While the restraining order was lifted in November 2017, the popularity of contraceptive implants, particularly among women from poor communities, has kept demand high.

“We are working to ensure that every woman has the right to choose a family planning method that would suit her need so that no one is left behind,” said UNFPA Philippines Country Representative Klaus Beck.  

Nobody left behind

In partnership with the Philippine Society for Responsible Parenthood (PSRP) and with support from Family Planning 2020 (FP2020), the programme aims to provide 40,000 women with access to contraceptive implants in 14 areas including far-flung communities with indigenous people.  

“I am very happy this family planning activity is happening in our community of Ugad,” said village captain Estelita Guiuo. The 63-year-old is from the Ibanag indigenous people who reside in the northern Philippine provinces of Isabela, Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya.

She smiles as she surveys the other Ibanag women looking to access contraceptive implants. “While some women want to get pregnant others might not.  This is why it is very important that women have that choice,” she told UNFPA.

Interviews in project sites have also revealed that many women view family planning as a path away from poverty. They do not want to be left behind, caught in a cycle of poverty. “Life is hard,” said 23-year-old Hannah Gumaro who voluntarily underwent implant insertion. The mother of two and her husband, a construction worker, considered the financial implications of another child.

“My sister-in-law told me about this family planning project and it’s very helpful. I do not want to get pregnant right now because we already have two children who we have to support,” said Ms. Gumaro.  

Ms. Calamayan who also underwent implant insertion had similar motivations. “Life can be challenging, and children are the ones who suffer when there is no food to eat. My husband and I, we already have three children who we need to educate,” she told UNFPA.

Human right

Millions of other Filipino women would benefit from access to voluntary family planning, which is one of the most effective ways to stop the cycle of poverty for families and communities in many developing countries.

On 13 May 2018, the world will witness the 50th anniversary of the proclamation that declared access to family planning as a basic human right. The proclamation was made during the International Conference on Human Rights and remains a reminder of the progress still needed to ending the unmet need for family planning.

“I hope more women have access to modern family planning,” said Ms. Calamayan after her implant insertion. “I’m very happy I had the opportunity.”

- Mario Villamor 

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Family planning/contraception methods

• Among the 1.9 billion women of reproductive age group (15–49 years) worldwide in 2021, 1.1 billion have a need for family planning; of these, 874 million are using modern contraceptive methods, and 164 million have an unmet need for contraception (1) .
• The proportion of the need for family planning satisfied by modern methods, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator 3.7.1, has stagnated globally at around 77% from 2015 to 2022 but increased from 52% to 58% in sub-Saharan Africa (2) .
• Only one contraceptive method, condoms, can prevent both a pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
• Use of contraception advances the human right of people to determine the number and spacing of their children.
• In 2022, global contraceptive prevalence of any method was estimated at 65% and of modern methods at 58.7% for married or in a union women (3) .

There are many different types of contraception, but not all types are appropriate for all situations. The most appropriate method of birth control depends on an individual’s overall health, age, frequency of sexual activity, number of sexual partners, desire to have children in the future, and family history of certain diseases. Ensuring access for all people to their preferred contraceptive methods advances several human rights including the right to life and liberty, freedom of opinion, expression and choice and the right to work and education, as well as bringing significant health and other benefits.

Use of contraception prevents pregnancy-related health risks for women, especially for adolescent girls, and when expressed in terms of interbirth intervals, children born within 2 years of an elder sibling have a 60% increased risk of infant death, and those born within 2–3 years a 10% increased risk, compared with those born after an interval of 3 years or longer (4) . It offers a range of potential non-health benefits that encompass expanded education opportunities and empowerment for women, and sustainable population growth and economic development for countries.

The number of women desiring to use family planning has increased markedly over the past two decades, from 900 million in 2000 to nearly 1.1 billion in 2021 (1) .

Between 2000 and 2020, the number of women using a modern contraceptive method increased from 663 million to 851 million. An additional 70 million women are projected to be added by 2030. Between 2000 and 2020, the contraceptive prevalence rate (percentage of women aged 15–49 who use any contraceptive method) increased from 47.7 to 49.0% (5) .

The proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15–49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods (SDG indicator 3.7.1) is 77.5% globally in 2022, a 10% increase since 1990 (67%) (2) .

The proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15–49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods (SDG indicator 3.7.1) is 77.5% globally in 2022, an increase of 10 percentage points since 1990 (67%) (2) . Reasons for this slow increase include limited choice of methods; limited access to services, particularly among young, poorer and unmarried people; fear or experience of side-effects; cultural or religious opposition; poor quality of available services; users’ and providers’ bias against some methods; and gender-based barriers to accessing services. As these barriers are addressed in some regions there have been increases in demand satisfied with modern methods of contraception.

Contraceptive methods

Methods of contraception include oral contraceptive pills, implants, injectables, patches, vaginal rings, intra uterine devices, condoms, male and female sterilization, lactational amenorrhea methods, withdrawal and fertility awareness-based methods. These methods have different mechanisms of action and effectiveness in preventing unintended pregnancy. Effectiveness of methods is measured by the number of pregnancies per 100 women using the method per year. Methods are classified by their effectiveness as commonly used into:

• very effective (0–0.9 pregnancies per 100 women)
• effective (1–9 pregnancies per 100 women)
• moderately effective (10–19 pregnancies per 100 women)
• less effective (20 or more pregnancies per 100 women).

For details on the mechanism of action and effectiveness of different contraceptive methods, click here .

WHO response

Achieving universal access and the realization of sexual and reproductive health services will be essential to fulfil the pledge of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that “no one will be left behind”. It will require intensified support for contraceptive services, including through the implementation of effective government policies and programmes.

WHO is working to promote contraception by producing evidence-based guidelines on safety and service delivery of contraceptive methods and on ensuring human rights in contraceptive programmes. WHO assists countries to adapt and implement these tools to strengthen contraceptive policies and programmes. Additionally, WHO participates in developing new contraceptive technologies to and leads and conducts implementation research for expanding access to and strengthening delivery contraceptive information and services .

1.  United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Family Planning 2022: Meeting the changing needs for family planning: Contraceptive use by age and method. UN DESA/POP/2022/TR/NO. 4 ( https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/files/documents/2023/Feb/undesa_pd_2022_world-family-planning.pdf ).

2.  United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). Estimates and Projections of Family Planning Indicators 2022.

3.  United Nations Population Division: www.population.un.org/dataportal/home ( https://population.un.org/dataportal/home . Accessed May 17, 2023).

4.  Cleland J, Conde-Agudelo A, Peterson H, Ross J, Tsui A. Contraception and health. Lancet. 2012;380(9837):149-156. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60609-6

5.  United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2020). World Family Planning 2020 Highlights: Accelerating action to ensure universal access to family planning (ST/ESA/SER.A/450).

• Contraception
• Mechanism of action and effectiveness of different contraceptive methods