Papua New Guinea : actions for scaling up long-acting reversible contraception

Overview

Among the Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region, Papua New Guinea has one of the lowest contraceptive prevalence rates at 32.4%, among married women. Addressing the unmet need for family planning is critical to reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Fewer unwanted pregnancies reduce maternal and child mortality, morbidity and malnutrition, and also improve employment opportunities for women, educational attainment and economic gains. Reversible contraceptive methods allow a woman to stop using the methods if and when she decides to have another baby. Long-acting methods are most effective and are cost-effective. Unintended pregnancies occur in two to eight per 1000 women per year using intrauterine devices (IUDs) and 0.5 per 1000 women using implants, versus 30 per 1000 women per year using progestin-only injectables, 80 per 1000 women using pills, and 150 per 1000 women using male condoms.