Contraception outside North America: options and popular choices

Abstract

Recent data indicate that worldwide contraceptive use has reached about 50%. Effective contraceptive methods are being used by increasing numbers of women; sterilization is the most widely used method in the world. In this chapter, sociocultural influences on contraceptive choice are reviewed for selected developed countries and developing countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Demographers predict that fertility control will remain a world problem for many years to come.

PIP: Worldwide contraceptive use hovers near the 50% mark, yet over 80% of the population in developing countries reside in 62 countries where official support exists for family planning programs. The lack of more broad contraceptive coverage is therefore most probably due to contraceptive supply constraints, not restrictive government policy. Increasing numbers of women are employing effective methods of contraception. Additionally, sterilization stands out as the most widely used method in the world, with over 108 million women and 41 million men opting for this form of protection. This paper reviews sociocultural influences on contraceptive choice in developed and developing countries. Denmark is specifically discussed as a case study for developed countries, and Nigeria, Peru, and China are discussed as case studies representing developing countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, respectively. Religious and socioeconomic factors are explored. Both continued fertility decline and governmental support of family planning programs are expected. High fertility will nonetheless remain a world problem for many years to come.