International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Leading family planning experts from around the world are to convene in New York this week for a conference designed to improve global access to this vital service.

Representatives from Bangladesh, Colombia, Guatemala, Kenya, India, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, the UK and the US will participate in the June 30th – July 2nd event, which has been organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The organisation claims a lack of funding for family planning continues to stall development efforts in poorer countries.

UNFPA says just ten per cent of women in the least economically developed nations are using contraception, contributing to unsustainable population growth which leads to further poverty, unrest and health inequality.

In countries where HIV/Aids is rife, a lack of contraception also serves to exacerbate growing worries over a sexually-transmitted disease epidemic.

Last month, HIV and Aids charity Avert claimed social inequality around the world makes women more vulnerable to infection than their male counterparts.