title: Family planning: choices and challenges for developing countries.
abstract: While slow and uneven progress has been made on maternal health, attaining the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) goal for achieving universal access to reproductive health remains elusive for many developing countries. Assuring access to sexual and reproductive health services, including integrated family planning services, remains a critical strategy for improving the health and well-being of women and alleviating poverty. Family planning not only prevents maternal, infant, and child deaths, but also empowers women to engage fully in socioeconomic development and provides them with reproductive choices. This paper will discuss the current landscape of contraception in developing countries, including options available to women and couples, as well as the challenges to its provision. Finally, we review suggestions to improve access and promising strategies to ensure all people have universal access to reproductive health options.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Zimbabwe. Electronic address: mikembizvo@gmail.com.
authors: Michael T
authors: MT
authors: Mbizvo
authors: Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Switzerland.
authors: Sharon J
authors: SJ
authors: Phillips
mesh_terms: D017280:Condoms; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003906:Developing Countries; D004343:Drug Implants; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011787:Quality of Health Care
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D004343:Drug Implants
keywords: contraception; developing countries; family planning; low-income countries