2023-07-21 00:00:23
The first contraceptive method in history was the Petri Papyrus, which was developed around 1850 BC.
The countries with the highest rates of contraceptive use are Finland (79%), Switzerland (73%) and Canada (73%).
While the nations with the lowest figures are Chad, Somalia, South Sudan and Eritrea, all with less than 10%.
Family planning is a right for all couples in the world and its objective is to allow each one to decide the exact moment in which they want to have a child. The basis is the use of contraceptive methods and to date there is a wide variety. While one of the biggest problems is that they are not common in all countries.
What are contraceptive methods and how did they arise?
In its simplest definition it is substances, objects, or procedures that prevent a woman from becoming pregnant. They allow birth control and help couples decide whether or not to have children until such time as they are ready.
A common mistake is to think that birth control methods emerged during the last decades because they are actually quite old. One of the first medical texts in history is The Petri Papyruswhich was written around the year 1850 BC Within his annotations he talks about recipes and methods of natural origin to prevent conception.
Among the indications, the use of crocodile excrement mixed with a paste that served as an obstacle to prevent fertilization was advised. While another recipe consisted of a vaginal irrigation with honey and natural native baking soda. It was not until several centuries later that it was found that these types of recipes are ineffective and are even harmful to women.
Fight unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections
On the other hand, back to the importance of contraceptive methods today, the World Health Organization (WHO) mentions that they are also useful to protect women. The reason is because they prevent pregnancy-related health risks, especially in adolescents.
In addition, when the interval between births is less than two years, the infant mortality rate is 45% higher than when this interval is from 2 to 3 years, and 60% higher than if it is four years or more.
The State of World Population 2023 report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) highlights how population dynamics are often cited as the root cause of many of today’s challenges.
The countries with the highest and lowest use of contraceptive methods
However, the countries with the highest proportion of women aged 15-49 using contraception are Finland (79%), Switzerland (73%), Canada (73%), the United Kingdom (72%) and China (71%). At the regional level, it is Latin America and the Caribbean that stands out (an average contraception rate of 59 percent). It is followed by Asia and the Pacific (54%).
While Eastern Europe and Central Asia (46%), Eastern and Southern Africa (36%), the Arab States (34%), and Western and Central Africa (20%) are below the global average of 50 percent.
In the United States, about six in ten women (61%) used some form of contraception as of 2023, slightly below averages for countries like the Netherlands (63%), Ireland (65%), New Zealand (65%), and Brazil (67%).
Finally, the places with the lowest rates of contraception worldwide are Chad, Somalia, South Sudan and Eritreaall with less than 10% of reported women taking contraceptives.
Also read:
These are the safest methods of contraception according to the SSa
This is the new guideline for the prescription of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods
The most used contraceptive methods in the world
#countries #highest #lowest #contraceptive #methods