Access to contraception in Europe remains highly unequal

Entry to contraception and different types of contraception in Europe stays noticeably uneven, in line with a brand new report launched on Wednesday.

The so-called European Contraception Coverage Atlas discovered that there’s a vital quantity of labor to do so as to assist households have youngsters in a deliberate and measured method.

The chief director of the European Parliamentary Discussion board for sexual and reproductive rights (EPF), Neil Datta, stated that within the 46 international locations surveyed, solely “57% of ladies in Europe use trendy contraception.” 

He added that simply over a 3rd of pregnancies in Europe are unintended — however not essentially undesired — which “represents the bottom fee on the earth”.

But inside the 27 EU international locations, entry to contraceptive provides, counselling and on-line info differs considerably.

France and Belgium have the very best charges of contraception use, with the bottom numbers in Poland and Hungary.

Datta informed Euronews that governments have to ensure that contraception is roofed by nationwide well being techniques and in addition to have devoted youth programmes specializing in the matter.

“Many younger folks could have household plans however not for the subsequent couple of years. So, they might be higher suited to sure forms of contraception that are long-acting and reversible reasonably than some others that require each day reminders, such because the contraceptive capsule,” he stated.

Lower than half of the international locations surveyed embrace of their nationwide well being techniques the chance to cowl the overall or partial price of contraception, together with dearer varieties equivalent to injections, intrauterine gadgets and implants.

Sophie In’t Veld, a member of the casual group generally known as ‘MEPs for Sexual and Reproductive Rights’, informed Euronews that Brussels has not been vocal sufficient on the difficulty.

“The issue is that the European Fee has all the time been extraordinarily timid and reluctant, not daring to ‘go there’ as a result of the Fee thinks it’s too political,” she defined.

“There are [European] campaigns about most cancers, weight problems, Alzheimer…why not about contraceptives and household planning? As a result of that’s a part of public well being coverage.”