World Contraception Day 2024: Advocating for global access and reproductive rights
This World Contraception Day, FIGO’s Committee on Contraception is championing global access to contraception and promoting reproductive health education. FIGO and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) have released a joint statement on the crucial role of contraception in maternal and infant health, and FIGO President Kihara Anne-Beatrice has put out a family planning call to action for healthcare professionals.
Test your knowledge on contraception
In line with their advocacy mission, the Committee on Contraception has launched an interactive social media campaign, encouraging individuals to test their knowledge on access to contraception.
Dr Asha Kasliwal, Chair of the Committee, underscores the importance of this work: “On World Contraception Day, let's work towards a world where everyone has the knowledge, access and support to choose the contraceptive method that best suits their needs, including long-acting reversible contraception.”
The campaign aims to raise awareness about contraceptive choices and the benefits they bring to women’s health and autonomy. When every pregnancy is intended and cared for, women can truly thrive – in health, autonomy and opportunity.
Test your knowledge of contraception: World Contraception Day 2024
The strength of OBGYNs and midwives together
FIGO and ICM have released a statement on the crucial role of contraception in maternal and infant health. The joint statement emphasises the need to address short inter-pregnancy intervals, which are closely linked to maternal anaemia, preterm births and infant mortality.
The collaboration between obstetrician/gynaecologists and midwives is highlighted as vital to providing holistic, patient-centred contraceptive counselling. By focusing on shared decision-making, healthcare professionals can empower women to make informed choices about their reproductive health.
FIGO and ICM urge healthcare professionals worldwide to prioritise equitable contraceptive provision, particularly in postpartum and post-abortion care, where the unmet need is highest. Together we advocate for universal access to contraception and targeted support for vulnerable groups, aiming to improve maternal and child health, advance gender equality and support reproductive autonomy.
Read the full joint statement here.
A call from FIGO President, Prof Kihara Anne-Beatrice: the five Ps of family planning
Clinicians play a critical role in securing, protecting and promoting the health and wellbeing of women, girls, their families and communities. On World Contraception Day, I urge all healthcare professionals to consider my five Ps of family planning:
- Plan – support reproductive planning and enable women to fulfil their fertility intentions.
- Prepare – provide guidance to support informed decision making on timing, number and spacing of any pregnancies; be aware of health-seeking behaviours.
- Promote – highlight the importance of safe motherhood and advocate for the needs of vulnerable and marginalised groups.
- Prevent – unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal and child mortalities.
- Protect the next generation – ensure timely and effective provision of care for mothers and babies to enable contraceptive choice and promote healthy decision making.
Universal access to timely contraception and family planning is a human rights imperative, without which it will be much harder to attain the sustainable development goals. Together, we must ensure the safety and security of our people, planet, peace and the prosperity and quality of our progeny.