Modern contraception necessary for women in developing countries

Summary of story from Yahoo! News, October 18, 2011

Greater access to birth control is a necessity for women in developing countries like Somalia, according to experts at a recent US forum on health and development.

Former Irish President Mary Robinson, who is now chair of the Aspen Institute’s Global Leaders Council, met with experts in a range of fields including health, demography and climate change.

Ms Robinson drew upon the experience of Somalia to highlight the need for better health care for women and children across the globe.

In an address at the National Press Club, she said: “Somalia shows the extent to which failure to learn from the famine in 1992, and our failure to prioritze the health of women and children has become a global problem, one none of us can ignore.”

According to data from the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), Somalia has one of the highest birth rates in the world, but only one per cent of married women have access to modern contraception.

The PRB’s 2011 world population data sheet indicates that access to reproductive health services is essential to reduce “unacceptably high” birth rates and improve children’s nourishment.

Geoff Dabelko, director of the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Programme, and featured speaker at the forum, pointed out that “Somali women are not alone.”

“More than 215 million women around the world want to plan their families yet lack access to modern contraception.”

The Aspen Institute supported the Global Leaders Council for Reproductive Health who are urging world leaders to double their investment in providing family planning services.