High fertility and population growth (cont.)
Policy Option 1: Lower fertility through effective family planning programmes
Numerous surveys, such as the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), have found that large proportions of married women in low income countries report that they do not want a pregnancy soon. Despite this, many of these women are not using an effective form of contraception and so are not protected from the risk of unwanted pregnancy. These women are referred to as having an unmet need for family planning.
Meeting the contraceptive needs of these women through effective family planning programmes would enable women and men to avoid unwanted childbearing, and time births for when it is right for them. It would have the added benefits of:
- Reducing total fertility and population growth rates.
- Reducing maternal mortality and morbidity, through preventing early and late childbearing, increasing birth intervals and reducing unintended pregnancies.
- Reduced mortality and morbidity resulting from unsafe abortion.