title: Regional trends in the use of short-acting and long-acting contraception accessed through the private and public sectors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine trends in the source of modern contraception (public versus private sector); method choice (long-acting or permanent methods versus short-acting methods); and method and source combined.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was conducted using data collected by national Demographic and Health Surveys and Reproductive Health Surveys during the period 1992-2012. The dataset included 18 low-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, 10 from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), and 8 from Asia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A substantial proportion-between 40% and 49%-of modern contraceptive users relied on the private sector in Asia and LAC in the last 20years, yet the proportion has been smaller in Sub-Saharan Africa, between 27% and 30%. Increased use of short-acting methods from both public and private sectors has driven the rise in contraceptive prevalence in Asia and LAC. Similarly, increased contraceptive prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa reflected the increased use of short-acting methods obtained mainly through the public sector, with only limited use of long-acting or permanent methods through the private sector.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The private sector has played a key role in the increase of modern CPR and the provision of modern contraceptives around the world, providing almost half of them in low-income countries. Yet, such increase was driven primarily by a more substantial role in the provision of short-acting methods than long acting and permanent methods.
authors.affiliation: International Health Division, Abt Associates, Bethesda, MD, USA. Electronic address: Jorge_Ugaz@abtassoc.com.
authors.forename: Jorge I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Ugaz
authors.affiliation: International Health Division, Abt Associates, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Minki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chatterji
authors.affiliation: Futures Group, Washington DC, USA.
authors.forename: James N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Gribble
authors.affiliation: International Health Division, Abt Associates, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D001208:Asia; D017691:Caribbean Region; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000639:trends*; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000639:trends; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000639:trends*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D017149:Private Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017150:Public Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Contraception; Family planning; Fertility Rate; Long-acting and permanent methods; Method mix; Private sector