{"id":124,"date":"2012-07-07T10:17:18","date_gmt":"2012-07-07T04:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/asap-asia.org\/blog\/?p=124"},"modified":"2013-03-13T13:22:55","modified_gmt":"2013-03-13T07:52:55","slug":"right-on-time-for-the-summit-facts-on-family-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asap-asia.org\/blog\/right-on-time-for-the-summit-facts-on-family-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"Right On Time for the Summit \u2013 Facts on Family Planning:"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Guttmacher Institute<\/strong> has published a report that summarizes the costs and benefits of making modern contraception more accessible in the developing world.<\/p>\n

The numbers the Institute tweeted this morning were astounding:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>There are 222 million women with little or no access to modern contraception, and meeting these unmet needs can prevent up to<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. 218 million unintended pregnancies<\/li>\n
  2. 118, 000 maternal deaths<\/li>\n
  3. 26 million abortions<\/li>\n
  4. 16 million unsafe abortions<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    To Read Full Report Click Here<\/a><\/p>\n

    The Lancet series on family planning, published ahead of the Summit, is a comprehensive collection of studies on the evidence of the effect of family planning on people’s well-being and welfare. Click Here<\/a> to view the series.<\/p>\n

    This year also gives cause for celebration for India. It\u2019s 60 years since India became the first country to formulate policies on family planning.\u00a0 These were introduced to counter the growing population, and not as a means to empower women. But if progressive ideas on reproductive rights are well integrated, these policies could lay the foundation to laws that empower Indian women by allowing them to choose if and when they want to become mothers.<\/p>\n

    Incidentally, the International Planned Parenthood Federation is also turning 60.<\/p>\n

    Such stories are highlighted in John May\u2019s Book, World Population Policies: Their Origins, Evolution and Impact. According to this Book Review in the New Security Beat<\/a>, this book makes for good reading in preparation for World Population Day on July 11th<\/sup>, when world leaders will meet in London for the Global Summit on Family Planning.<\/p>\n

    Also, in time for the Summit, is this video from Pakistan which shows U.K.\u2019s International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell in conversation with mid-level workers from Pakistan. These women learn about modern contraception, and take it to their community.<\/p>\n