Growth of contraceptive use highest in African countries — report
INQUIRER.net stock photo
The number of women and girls in poor countries embracing modern contraception has leaped by tens of millions with Africa recording the biggest gains, the organization Family Planning 2020 (FP2020) said Monday.
A new report shows that 314 million women and girls in 69 countries — out of 926 million of childbearing age — now use contraceptive methods like condoms, pills and birth control implants.
Article continues after this advertisementThe figures represent a gain of 2% globally since 2012, while gains of 7% were recorded in East and Southern Africa.
“The use of modern contraception is growing fastest here in Africa,” FP2020 director Beth Schlachter told a press conference in Nairobi, ahead of a global conference on population and development set to begin Tuesday.
FP2020, a self-described “global movement” founded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the British government, works with governmental and non-governmental partners to promote goals set at a conference in London in 2012.
Article continues after this advertisementSpecifically, it has been striving for 120 million new contraception users by 2020. CL/JB
RELATED STORIES:
Anti-inflammatory agents like aspirin, antibiotics could relieve symptoms of major depression
New study finds young moms are more likely to have a child with ADHD
