Family planning interventions across the League of Arab States: a regional scoping review

Abstract

Family planning is crucial in improving maternal and child health, reducing fertility rates and promoting gender equity. Despite global advancements in contraceptive access, disparities persist across the League of Arab States due to sociocultural, economic and policy barriers. Understanding the effectiveness of existing family planning interventions in this region is essential for addressing unmet needs and guiding policy improvements. This scoping review aims to identify and appraise family planning interventions conducted across the League of Arab States. A comprehensive search of 14 databases was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews guidelines, focusing on studies published between 2010 and December 2024. The review included intervention-based studies that assessed family planning outcomes in Arabic-speaking countries. Data were extracted and tabulated. Seventeen intervention studies were identified, with the majority conducted in Jordan and Egypt. Effective interventions included pharmacist-led education, multisectoral collaborations, behavioural economics approaches and crisis-responsive strategies. While most studies reported positive effects on contraceptive uptake and knowledge, challenges such as low male engagement, provider resistance and sustainability concerns persisted. Interventions in crisis-affected settings demonstrated adaptability, but scalability remains a key issue. Future efforts should focus on culturally tailored strategies, long-term intervention sustainability and integrating family planning with broader health and economic empowerment programs.

Keywords: Arab women; Middle East; North Africa; family planning; reproductive health.