Reducing inequities in access and use of family planning in Latin America and the Caribbean

In many Latin American countries, family planning (FP) programs have successfully reached clients with high-quality services and a broad range of methods. Now, stakeholders are focusing on reducing inequities in access and use of FP between the wealthiest and the poorest segments of these populations. A market segmentation analysis (MSA) can promote a better understanding of the contraceptive market in a country and resource allocation by identifying problems of access and equity between socioeconomic groups. Using this analysis, countries can develop plans to meet current and future needs, to improve equity between population segments, and to better target resources to meet these goals. Recent MSAs looked at factors that affect equity—level of education, age, geographic location, method choice, unmet need, source of supply, and socioeconomic quintile—and trends over time through a secondary analysis of data from the most recent DHS or RHS. In many countries, TFR and unmet need have declined significantly over the past decade and CPR has been steadily rising. However, there remain discrepancies between socioeconomic quintiles in TFR, contraceptive use, unmet need, and source of contraceptive supply. For example, TFR and unmet need are lower among wealthier and urban women than poor and rural women and CPR is higher. It is clear that discrepanies remain and poorer women's needs are not completely met by existing services. To continue CS progress, partners must make a greater effort to expand access to FP information, services, and commodities to all segments of the population.