A decade of measuring contraceptive security around the globe: Achievements and opportunities

Family planning (FP) is a critical service within any reproductive health program, providing women with the services and contraceptives they need to have timely and healthy pregnancies. This results in healthier women, babies, families, and communities. Without a reliable supply of contraceptives, FP programs cannot provide quality services to clients. Critical to this is contraceptive security (CS) —meaning every person is able to choose, obtain, and use quality contraceptives.

The Contraceptive Security Index measures countries' level of CS through an objective set of indicators covering five components: supply chain, finance, health environment, access, and utilization. The 17 indicators are also compiled to establish composite scores for more than 60 countries. With new data collected in 2012, these data now represent four sets of scores: 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2012. This decade corresponds to significant efforts by global donors to improve CS throughout the world. By reviewing the trends in component and total scores, stakeholders can assess progress and identify broad areas of strengths and weaknesses needing focused attention and resources.

Results show global progress toward CS since 2003, with improvements across many countries. Notably, countries with the lowest scores in 2003 have made the most significant progress, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. These countries progressed most significantly in the supply chain component, suggesting that efforts to strengthen the supply chain are improving contraceptive security.

Despite these achievements, challenges remain. The index can be used to advocate for CS, set priorities, and monitor progress toward achieving a secure supply of quality contraceptives.