Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: The contribution of fulfilling unmet need for family planning

In September 2000, 191 nations committed themselves to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). For many countries, meeting these goals will be a challenge, and they will need to employ every tool at their disposal. Family planning (FP) is one of those tools, and can make a strong contribution to meeting the MDGs.

This analysis estimated the extent of the cost savings for four of the eight MDGs: 1. Achieve universal primary education 2. Reduce child mortality 3. Improve maternal health 4. Ensure environmental sustainability Costs were calculated under two scenarios: when unmet need for FP remains constant, and when unmet need for FP is gradually met by 2020.

Meeting unmet need for FP would result in fewer unintended pregnancies and births, leading to a lower population in need of the services required to meet the MDGs and consequently, reduce costs in meeting the MDGs. Analysis of three countries in Latin America (Bolivia, Guatemala, and Peru) showed that for every dollar invested in FP, there would be a return of between $6 and $16, considering indicators for the four MDGs listed earlier.

FP also helps to reduce the number of high risk pregnancies, thereby reducing the high levels of maternal and infant mortality associated with risky pregnancies. The study shows that addressing unmet need in Guatemala could be expected to avert 1,200 maternal deaths and 97,500 child deaths by 2015.

Increased contraceptive use can significantly reduce the costs of achieving selected MDGs and contribute to reductions in maternal and child mortality.