Since the introduction of the oral contraceptive pill over 60 years ago, globally more than 75% of women of reproductive age use modern contraceptive methods, a figure that rises to 80% in Europe and North America. However, despite these advancements, unintended pregnancies remain high, making up two-thirds of all pregnancies worldwide.
A variety of contraceptive options exist, each with their own pros and cons. Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), like IUDs, contraceptive injections, and implants, offer long-term protection without the daily adherence required by pills. While experts consider LARCs among the most effective options, they are globally underutilised, with only 14% of women aged 15–49 using them.
To better understand this low uptake, CRA and experts from countries with high rates of modern contraceptive use in different stages of contraceptive policy development analysed the evidence on policy barriers impacting the use of LARCs. Through this research, they developed policy recommendations to address these challenges.
This whitepaper outlines the research findings. Nine accompanying country profiles provide a deep dive analysis for each country in scope.
