Family Planning Equity Among Youth: Where Are We Now?

Elizabeth Leahy Madsen, Population Reference Bureau (PRB)
Charlotte Greenbaum , Population Reference Bureau (PRB)

While the gap in demand satisfied for modern family planning (FP) between rich and poor young women is improving, equitable access to FP is still challenging. Wealth-based inequity remains persistent in much of sub-Saharan Africa, even after accounting for education, urban/rural residence, age, and other factors. This research assesses whether demand satisfied for FP, a key indicator of access to sexual and reproductive health, is equitable among young women ages 15 to 24, and to what extent inequity has changed over time. We consider these questions at the global, regional, and national levels, drawing on data from 33 low- and middle-income countries. The results show that globally, education and marital status affect demand satisfied for FP among young women at least as much as wealth. Further, increases in contraceptive use, rather than decreases in unmet need, have been the primary factor driving recent improvements in demand satisfied among young women.

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 Presented in Session 2. Children & Youth