(See also “Abortion, Family Planning,” “Contraceptives,”)
Overview
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report, “State of the World 2012,” claims: “… statistics show that 867 million women of childbearing age in developing countries have a need for modern contraceptives. Of that total, 645 million have access to them. But a staggering 222 million still do not. … The remaining 222 million women have an unmet need for contraception.”[1]
Using this figure of “222 million women” with a supposed “unmet need” for contraception, Planned Parenthood and other organizations that profit from selling contraceptives, manipulate governments and UN agencies to provide them with millions of dollars of funding for their lucrative contraceptive/family planning services.
But what does the “222 million” figure really represent?
According to UNFPA, 100 percent of the “unmet need” for contraceptives is attributable to “lack of access.” Yet the facts say otherwise. For example, a survey of women in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Central Asia, and Southeast Asia,[2] which account for almost 69 percent of the alleged 222 million women with supposed “unmet needs” in the developing world, illustrates the deception in the 222 million figure.
In fact, the Guttmacher Institute, the organization that conducted the survey, found that the reasons for not using contraception among the large majority of women categorized as having an “unmet need” for contraception had little to do with “lack of access” and everything to do with not wanting to use contraception.
Here is what the “unmet need” survey actually found:
- 23 percent of the women surveyed did not want to use contraception because of its side effects
- 21 percent didn’t use contraception because they had sex infrequently
- 17 percent because they were breastfeeding or postpartum
- 10 percent because their partner was opposed to contraception
- 16 percent because the woman herself was opposed to contraception
- 8 percent because of high costs or no access
- 4 percent because they were unaware of contraceptive methods
According to the survey, only eight percent of women were not using contraception because of the high cost or because they had no access. This means that 92 percent of the women who allegedly had “unmet needs” for contraception actually had legitimate reasons for not using contraception. Therefore, they did not really have any need for contraception as is often claimed.
In other words, this “222 million women” figure with “unmet needs” for family planning is a marketing ploy to push the birth control/family planning agenda on the developing world and to line the pockets of organizations and businesses that profit from family planning services and contraception.[3]
Talking Points
1. From what source did the number of women with “unmet needs” come from and what exactly does “unmet need” mean? Does it mean women or girls who have asked for contraceptives and couldn’t get them?
2. Does every woman need or want family planning?
3. Where did the concept of “unmet need” for family planning originate? Was it an entity that profits from providing family planning services? The Guttmacher Institute is the main organization conducting the “research” that claims there is a huge, worldwide “unmet need” for family planning. They were supported and funded by Planned Parenthood for decades. Planned Parenthood makes millions of dollars from family planning services. In fact, they have 65,000 service points in 170 countries, and Planned Parenthood’s president receives more than $500,000 annually in compensation. (See AbortPlannedParenthood.org.)
In other words, “unmet need” is a major profit-making ploy.
4. Are there any related data coming from an unbiased source?
5. Consider the following from the Guttmacher Institute’s own study:
- In sub-Saharan Africa, the two most commonly cited reasons for not using contraception were health risks/side effects and opposition by the woman and/or partner.
- In South CentralAsia, opposition to contraceptive use by the woman and/or partner was the main reason for nonuse, followed by infrequent sex.
- In Southeast Asia, health concerns, side effects, followed by infrequent sex, were cited most often as the reasons for not using contraceptives.[4]
- Based on the above data it is clear that there are many reasons why people don’t use contraceptives that have nothing to do with access or availability. This debunks the common myth that millions of women have an “unmet need” for contraceptives.
[1] Information in the overview is based on Oas, R. (2015). Needs Without Wants [fact sheet]. Center for Family and Human Rights. https://c-fam.org/flyer/needs-without-wants/
[2] Darroch, Jacqueline E., Sedgh, Gilda, and Ball, Haley. “Contraceptive Technologies: Responding to Women’s Needs.” Guttmacher Institute. April 2011.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.