Substantial use increase in 1990s. (World Contraceptive Use 2001).

Worldwide, 62 per cent or 650 million of the more than 1 billion married or in-union women of reproductive age are using contraception. In the more developed regions, 70 per cent of married women use a method of contraception, while in the less developed regions 60 per cent do. In Africa, only 25 per cent are using it, whereas in Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean prevalence of contraceptive use is fairly high--66 per cent and 69 per cent, respectively.

These are some of the key findings shown in the "World Contraceptive Use 2001", a wall chart issued by the United Nations Population Division as part of its ongoing monitoring of world use of family planning. The chart presents the most recent data available on the current contraceptive practices in 153 countries and areas of women of reproductive age who are in a marital or consensual union. Also included are data on the number of women who are married or in a consensual union, the percentage using contraception and the types of methods used at the country, regional and international levels; recent trends in contraceptive use, and the percentage of those whose need for family planning is unmet. Data were compiled primarily from surveys based on nationally representative samples of women aged 15 to 49, and pertain on average to the year 1997.

Traditional methods are more popular in the developed countries, where they are used by 11 per cent of married couples, compared with just 5 per cent in the developing countries. The higher prevalence in developed countries accounts for much of the difference in contraceptive use between developed and developing countries. The most used traditional methods include rhythm (periodic abstinence) and withdrawal. As a whole, these are used by 6 per cent of married women in the world.

Contraceptive use has increased substantially over the past decade. In the developing countries, it annually increased by at least I percentage point in 68 per cent of the countries and by at least 2 percentage points in 15 per cent of the countries. In Africa, usage among married women increased from around 15 per cent ten years ago to 25 per cent today; in Asia, from 52 to 66 per cent; and in Latin America and the Caribbean, from 57 to 69 per cent. Developed countries show little growth in levels of use over the past decade, as a result of their already high contraceptive prevalence.

High levels of unmet need for family planning remain in the developing countries, despite the recent rapid growth in the use of contraception there. An average of 24 per cent of married women in sub-Saharan Africa need family planning (because they do not want any more children or want to delay their next pregnancy by two years or more), but for various reasons, such as not knowing where to get a method or fear of side effects, they are not using any contraception. In Northern Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, the need for family planning is lower at around 18 per cent, and in Europe it is below 10 percent on average.

Data presented in the wall chart are only on women of reproductive age who are married or in a consensual union, because comparative information is more widely available for married populations than for unmarried ones, and for women than for men. Also, data reflect the primary or most effective method used with the spouse or regular partner; that is, when a respondent reports that she is using a combination of methods, only the most effective one is registered. This may explain in part, for example, why condom use is much higher in the more developed regions than in the less developed (15 per cent and 3 per cent of married women, respectively, are reporting that their partners are using condoms). In the more developed regions, when condoms are reported to be the contraceptive method used, it is usually the primary method. In less developed regions, apart from being used less frequently, condoms tend to be used in conjunction with another more effective method. Finally, studies have shown that reported use of condoms is higher if respondents are asked about contraceptive use with any partner rather than with lust the regular partner.

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RELATED ARTICLE: Major findings

The level of contraceptive use is higher in the more developed regions, where 70 per cent of the 170 million married or in-union women are using contraception, compared to 60 per cent of the 880 million in the less developed regions. Worldwide, 62 per cent are using contraception.

The level is lowest in Africa, where only 25 per cent of the 117 million married women are using contraception. By contrast, it is fairly high in Asia (66 per cent of the 700 million married women) and in Latin America and the Caribbean (69 per cent of 84 million married women).

Nine out often contraceptive users worldwide rely on modern methods. The most commonly used are female sterilization (20 per cent of married women), intrauterine devices (IUDs) (15 per cent), and oral pills (8 per cent). Modern methods are considered more effective at preventing pregnancy and require access to family planning services or supplies.

Short-acting and reversible methods are more popular in the developed countries, whereas longer-acting and highly effective clinical methods are used more in the developing countries. In developed countries, users rely mostly on oral pills (17 per cent of married women) and condoms (15 per cent). By contrast, female sterilization and IUDs used by 22 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively, dominate in the developing countries.