The importance of family planning in reducing maternal mortality

This research brief, produced by Family Health International, uses an analysis of data from Bangladesh to demonstrate the impact of family planning on maternal mortality. It finds that, at the national level, family planning reduces the number of pregnancies and births. Even without any improvement in obstetric care, a ten per cent reduction in the number of pregnancies will produce a ten per cent (or greater) reduction in the number of maternal deaths. Results show that, at least in the study area, it is far more effective in terms of reducing maternal mortality to prevent births to young (under 20 years of age) women than to prevent births to older women.

The brief concludes that while it is a sensitive issue in many cultures, delaying pregnancy by increasing family planning use among both married and unmarried women less than 20 years of age could save many lives. In countries where fertility is already low, the impact on maternal mortality of expanding access to family planning will not be great. There is one important exception to this: where fertility is low because of widespread use of abortion, family planning can save lives by preventing abortions.[adapted from author]