- World Contraception Day 2008 Highlights Scale and Impact of UnplannedPregnancy
Today, international sexual and reproductive health experts andsuccessful recording artist and media personality Kelly Osbourne, call formore action to address the burgeoning problem of unplanned pregnancies andthe subsequent level of abortions worldwide. Both result from lack of, andinaccurate use of, contraception, and lead to significant personal crisis andsocietal burden. The campaign is supported by Bayer Schering Pharma. On the40th anniversary year of the United Nations declaring contraception andfamily planning a basic human right, World Contraception Day highlights theimpact of unplanned pregnancy to help educate young people on making informedchoices about contraception and prevent unwanted pregnancies.
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(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080925/322164 )
Successful recording artist and media personality Kelly Osbourne supportsWorld Contraception Day: "This campaign is important because it empowersyoung people to make informed choices about contraception. Today, young womenface many pressures and challenges when dealing with relationships and sex,but my message is simple when it comes to contraception: it's your life, it'syour body and it's your choice. Having a baby is one of the biggest things inyour life. Talk to your partner and your doctor, and make your decision onthe best contraception and protection for you."
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Unplanned pregnancies in Europe have now reached over 9 million peryear,(1) with 90% of these in Eastern Europe and 64% in Western Europeresulting in abortion.(1,2) Behaviour amongst European women and menindicates ambivalence towards the use of contraception and the implicationsof not using it. Indeed, a recent survey revealed that very few Europeanswhen in a new relationship plan the first time they have sex. Almost halfstated that it just happened spontaneously because it felt like the righttime and place.(3) In addition, almost half of couples had sex for the firsttime together without using contraception.(3) Whilst women oftenunderestimate their pregnancy risk, they also overlook the enormous impact ofa mistimed or unwanted pregnancy on their life.
"In Europe, too many women are still having abortions as a form of'contraception'. We need to shift this misunderstanding and educate people ontheir right to contraception and on how to use contraception properly toprevent conception in the first instance," commented Prof Jean-Jacques Amyfrom the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health (ESC)."Unplanned pregnancies not only impact on society but most importantly on thewoman, be it emotionally, socially or financially. We must work to makecontraception accessible to all in the reproductive age, and educate on itseffective use."
Research shows that having a child at a young age can often limit a youngwoman's education and career prospects and results in higher rates of povertyand a lower standard of living.(4) Preterm and low birth weight babies aremore frequent among adolescent mothers and the children are more likely tosuffer from childhood health issues or to be hospitalized, than those born toolder women.(4) Children born to young mothers are also much more likely toexperience a range of negative outcomes in later life, such as developmentaldisabilities, behavioural issues and poor academic performance.(4,5)
Societal costs for unplanned pregnancy and abortion are significant. InEurope, the availability of abortion ranges from availability "on demand" toonly being available in extreme circumstances.(6) In addition, couples inmost countries have to pay for contraception whereas abortions are eitherstate-funded or a cheaper alternative.(2) Even in countries where there isadequate provision of family planning services, the impact of unplannedpregnancies is
