Although the use of contraceptives is very common in modern times, several women around the world still do not have access due to a spectrum of reasons. Many women who live in less developed countries often have trouble finding access to contraceptives. According to the Contraceptive Use by Method report by the United Nations, the prevalence of contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in less developed countries is 30.9% compared to the 57% use in developed regions. Moreover, the use of contraception in low-income countries is only 28%, whereas it is 56.6% in high-income countries.
Several women in Asia still face many obstacles in accessing contraceptives due to cultural, religious, and socioeconomic challenges. Religious practices, the stigma around the use of contraceptives, and socioeconomic status often prevent women (especially those of a young age) from getting contraceptives. Women in Europe also face similar obstacles. Moreover, women in Australia struggle with the compliance, availability, and cost of contraceptives. Many of them were not given the choice nor the resources to choose the contraceptive method that suits their circumstances.
Women in Africa are like those in Asia because they encounter barriers such as cost, limited availability, and misconceptions when trying to gain access to modern contraceptives. North American women are more fortunate than the rest of the world in gaining access to modern contraceptives; however, maintaining a prescription can be difficult and insurance does not always provide contraceptive coverage. In South America, women would greatly benefit from taking long-acting reversible contraception due to high unintended and adolescent pregnancy rates, but women are often misinformed, uneducated, and too poor to afford the birth control access and treatment they deserve.
Modern contraceptives; Global access to Women; Asia; Africa; European countries; Impact of global access of modern contraceptives to Women.