Investing in Family Planning is key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, New Report Shows

In Viet Nam, the total fertility rate has fallen from an average of 5 children per couple (recorded in the 1970s) to replacement level at 2.09 in 2016. The Modern contraceptive prevalence rate increased from 37 per cent in 1988 to 67 per cent in 2016. The Maternal mortality rate has fallen from 233 per 100,000 live births in the 1990s to 69 per 100,000 live births in 2009 and 58.3 per 100,000 live births in 2016 – a dramatic improvement.

Despite dramatic progress, in Viet Nam and worldwide, enormous challenges remain: at the global level, some 214 million women in developing countries lack safe and effective family planning methods. Most of these women live in the 69 poorest countries. Fulfilling their unmet demand would save lives by averting 67 million unintended pregnancies and reducing by one third the estimated 303,000 annual maternal deaths.

The study estimates that 80.5 per cent of currently married women aged 15–49 are using any contraceptive method, and 64.4 per cent are using modern contraceptive methods. The intrauterine device (IUD) was the most preferred method (25.2 per cent), followed by the oral pill (19.3 per cent) and condoms (13.3 per cent).

The Contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) is higher in urban areas than rural areas. The highest CPR, found in the Southeastern region, was associated with the highest use of traditional methods (27.2 per cent). At the same time, the lowest CPR, in the Red River Delta, was associated with the lowest use of traditional methods (10.5 per cent). These data suggest reliance on traditional methods as opposed to use of modern methods, and indicate a need to consider means of transforming traditional method users into informed users of modern methods.

According to the study, 93 per cent of clients were satisfied with the services they received, yet only 40 per cent would recommend their facility to neighbors and relatives.

"Achieving the world's Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 will depend significantly on how well the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and young people are fulfilled. Catering to their unmet need for family planning is among the most cost-effective investments overall. The UNFPA in Viet Nam is fully committed to support the Government and people of Viet Nam to ensure that universal access to health, including sexual and reproductive health, will become a reality for all," emphasized Ms. Astrid Bant, UNFPA Representative in Viet Nam.

Investing in family planning is investing in health and the rights of women and couples worldwide. These investments also yield economic and other gains that can propel development forward and are thus critical to the success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its accompanying 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).