New Report Shows over 2.6 Million More Users of Modern Contraception in Bangladesh since 2012

Over 7.5 Million Unintended Pregnancies Prevented since
July 2017

KIGALI, RWANDA -�Media OutReach - 13 November
2018 - A groundbreaking international report shows the use of modern contraception has risen significantly in
Bangladesh, preventing over 7.5 million unintended pregnancies, over 3 million
unsafe abortions and 6,600 maternal deaths between July 2017 and July
2018.  The report also shows the
government has increased spending on family planning in Bangladesh.

 

Almost half of women aged 15-49 in Bangladesh
are using modern contraception, with this figure rising to 57% among married
women.

 

Beyond Bangladesh, the report shows more women
and girls than ever before are making the voluntary choice to use contraception
in the world’s 69 lowest-income countries.

 

The report entitled FP2020: Catalyzing Collaboration has been produced by Family
Planning 2020 (FP2020) – a global partnership that supports the rights of women
and girls to freely decide whether, when, and how many children they want to
have.  The report for the first time ever
includes new data on government spending on family planning in Bangladesh.  The report — available electronically
[progress.familyplanning2020.org] shows:

 

In Bangladesh:

• Domestic government spending on
  family planning of $225 million (2016) — for comparison with other countries
  see page 23 of report at above link

Bangladesh spent 225 million USD
of domestic resources on Family Planning in 2016 as per 2018 FP2020 Progress
Report, representing a very significant 72% of the 312 million USD of total
expenditure on family planning in the country in 2016. 

• In Bangladesh, among women aged
  15-49, an estimated 45.5% or 21.2 million are using a modern method of
  contraception in 2018. This is 2,637,000 more than in 2012.
• The rate has gradually increased
  to 56.8% among married women.
• As a result of modern contraceptive
  use between July 2017 and July 2018:

           ?    
7,559,000 unintended pregnancies
were prevented

           ?    
3,025,000 unsafe abortions were
averted

           ?    
6,600 maternal deaths were averted

• However, 19.1% of married women
  aged 15-49 have an unmet need for a modern method of contraception.

 

Globally:

• The number of women and girls
  using a modern method of contraception in the world’s 69 poorest countries had
  grown to more than 317 million, as of July 2018.
• This is 46 million more users than
  in 2012 (the year FP2020 was launched) — an increase that is around 30% greater
  than the historic trend.

 

Executive Director of Family Planning 2020,
Beth Schlachter said:

 

“Rights-based
family planning is a catalyst that unlocks the potential of girls and women in
Bangladesh and around the world. Our goal is to ensure that each one is able to
exercise her basic rights to self-determination, health, dignity, and equality.
This is a core strategy for countries to improve the health and well-being of
their citizens and economy.

 

“Women
represent half the global population, and there can be no healthy population
globally or in Bangladesh without reproductive health care.  As we continue to build the framework for
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) we must ensure access to full, free, voluntary
contraception is included for all women and girls.  As countries build UHC strategies,
rights-based family planning and SRHR services must be integrated within
primary health care systems.”   

Interviews about
the report, and its significance in Bangladesh are available with the following
individuals, who may be in attendance at the International Conference on Family
Planning in Rwanda. If you would like an in interview, or have written
questions, please reach out directly by email.

 

Dr. Kazi Mustafa
Sarwar, Director General, DGFP, dgfpinfo@gmail.com

Dr. Abu Sayed Hasan,
Technical Officer – FP & ASRH, ahasan@unfpa.org

Dr. Alia El Mohandes,
SeniorPolicy & Gender Advisor, aelmohandes@usaid.gov

Dr. Shehlina Ahmed,
Health and Population Advisor, Shehlina-Ahmed@dfid.gov.uk

Dr. Abu Jamil Faisel,
Civil Society Focal Point, ajfaisel@gmail.com

 

A fact sheet with
more data specific to Bangladesh from the new report, as well as photo images
you are welcome to use, can be found here [https://we.tl/t-N6t2UUf3Xs].
If attribution is needed, please attribute to Family Planning 2020.

 

The report is being launched at the
International Conference on Family Planning. 
Please follow and join in the conversation at:

 

Twitter: @FP2020Global

Facebook: /Family
Planning2020

YouTube:
FP2020Global

 

More background on
Bangladesh’s recent activities and progress relating to family planning can be
found at http://www.familyplanning2020.org/bangladesh.