Impact of exposure to family planning interventions on abortion rates and modern contraceptive use in Georgia

Georgia does not have a national family planning (FP) program and all FP activities are maintained with donor support. Since 2003, two JSI projects (USAID funded), have been operational to improve awareness of and access to modern FP through national communication campaigns, trainings of primary health care (PHC) providers and pharmacists, supportive supervision and distribution of USAID donated contraceptives (pills, IUD, condoms) to PHC and women consultation centers. The Georgia Reproductive Health Survey 2010 revealed dramatic decline in the abortion rate (1.6 vs 3.1 in 2005) and increase in contraceptive prevalence (32% vs 28% in 2005). These positive trends were particularly notable in regions with more exposure to FP program interventions. Imereti and Kakheti, the first regions ever targeted by the program, followed by Samegrelo and Shida Kartli (both with IDP settlements) showed the most significant decrease in abortion rates (1.6, 1.9, 2.1 and 2.2 vs 3.1, 3.8, 2.4 and 3.9 in 2005). Modern contraceptive use among married women is highest in these regions (34.4%, 36.6%, 43.3% and 36.1%). The use of pills is reported to be the highest in Kakheti and Samegrelo (7.5% and 8.5%), whereas the use of IUDs is highest in all four regions (14.8%. 14.5%, 14.8% and 15.8%). The percentage of condom users is also high in these regions (9.1%, 11.5%, 12.2% and 13.2%). Further expansion of FP interventions is critical to reach similar results nationwide and a sustainable platform for supply and demand of high quality FP services needs to replace the donor supported program.