By Megan
Abbot
September 26 was World Contraception
Day, and Brigit Katz reports for the New York Times on the barriers remaining for women’s access to birth
control, and the implications for human rights and development. Factors preventing women from fulfilling
their reproductive rights vary across the world, and include a lack of
resources, cultural attitudes, and misperceptions about the risk of
infertility. Although access is increasing in many regions, especially with the
proliferation of injectables and implants, real obstacles prevent women
worldwide from getting the health care they seek. The article reports “867 million women living in
developing countries want to avoid becoming pregnant, but around 222 million of
them have unmet contraceptive needs.” The result can be disempowering for the human rights of
women and their families, and the World Health Organization reports that 800 women die every day from causes related to
pregnancy and childbirth.
