Over 7.5 Million Unintended Pregnancies Prevented sinceJuly 2017

KIGALI, RWANDA - Media OutReach - 13 November2018 - A groundbreaking international report shows the use of modern contraception has risen significantly inBangladesh, preventing over 7.5 million unintended pregnancies, over 3 millionunsafe abortions and 6,600 maternal deaths between July 2017 and July2018.  The report also shows thegovernment has increased spending on family planning in Bangladesh.

Almost half of women aged 15-49 in Bangladeshare using modern contraception, with this figure rising to 57% among marriedwomen.

Beyond Bangladesh, the report shows more womenand girls than ever before are making the voluntary choice to use contraceptionin the world's 69 lowest-income countries.

The report entitled FP2020: Catalyzing Collaboration has been produced by FamilyPlanning 2020 (FP2020) - a global partnership that supports the rights of womenand girls to freely decide whether, when, and how many children they want tohave.  The report for the first time everincludes new data on government spending on family planning in Bangladesh.  The report -- available electronically[progress.familyplanning2020.org] shows:

In Bangladesh:

• Domestic government spending onfamily planning of $225 million (2016) -- for comparison with other countriessee page 23 of report at above link

Bangladesh spent 225 million USDof domestic resources on Family Planning in 2016 as per 2018 FP2020 ProgressReport, representing a very significant 72% of the 312 million USD of totalexpenditure on family planning in the country in 2016. 

• In Bangladesh, among women aged15-49, an estimated 45.5% or 21.2 million are using a modern method ofcontraception in 2018. This is 2,637,000 more than in 2012.
• The rate has gradually increasedto 56.8% among married women.
• As a result of modern contraceptiveuse between July 2017 and July 2018:

           ○    7,559,000 unintended pregnancieswere prevented

           ○    3,025,000 unsafe abortions wereaverted

           ○    6,600 maternal deaths were averted

• However, 19.1% of married womenaged 15-49 have an unmet need for a modern method of contraception.

Globally:

• The number of women and girlsusing a modern method of contraception in the world's 69 poorest countries hadgrown to more than 317 million, as of July 2018.
• This is 46 million more users thanin 2012 (the year FP2020 was launched) -- an increase that is around 30% greaterthan the historic trend.

Executive Director of Family Planning 2020,Beth Schlachter said:

"Rights-basedfamily planning is a catalyst that unlocks the potential of girls and women inBangladesh and around the world. Our goal is to ensure that each one is able toexercise her basic rights to self-determination, health, dignity, and equality.This is a core strategy for countries to improve the health and well-being oftheir citizens and economy.

"Womenrepresent half the global population, and there can be no healthy populationglobally or in Bangladesh without reproductive health care.  As we continue to build the framework forUniversal Health Coverage (UHC) we must ensure access to full, free, voluntarycontraception is included for all women and girls.  As countries build UHC strategies,rights-based family planning and SRHR services must be integrated withinprimary health care systems."   

Interviews aboutthe report, and its significance in Bangladesh are available with the followingindividuals, who may be in attendance at the International Conference on FamilyPlanning in Rwanda. If you would like an in interview, or have writtenquestions, please reach out directly by email.

Dr. Kazi MustafaSarwar, Director General, DGFP, dgfpinfo@gmail.com

Dr. Abu Sayed Hasan,Technical Officer - FP & ASRH, ahasan@unfpa.org

Dr. Alia El Mohandes,SeniorPolicy & Gender Advisor, aelmohandes@usaid.gov

Dr. Shehlina Ahmed,Health and Population Advisor, Shehlina-Ahmed@dfid.gov.uk

Dr. Abu Jamil Faisel,Civil Society Focal Point, ajfaisel@gmail.com

A fact sheet withmore data specific to Bangladesh from the new report, as well as photo imagesyou are welcome to use, can be found here [https://we.tl/t-N6t2UUf3Xs].If attribution is needed, please attribute to Family Planning 2020.

The report is being launched at theInternational Conference on Family Planning. Please follow and join in the conversation at:

Twitter: @FP2020Global

Facebook: /FamilyPlanning2020

YouTube:FP2020Global

More background onBangladesh's recent activities and progress relating to family planning can befound at https://www.familyplanning2020.org/bangladesh.