Not all inequalities are equal: differences in coverage across the continuum of reproductive health services.

Reducing inequalities in health service coverage is central to achieving the larger goal of universal health coverage. Reproductive health services are part of evidence-based health interventions that comprise a minimum set of essential health interventions that all countries should be able to provide. This paper shows patterns in inequalities in three essential reproductive health services that span a continuum of care-contraceptive use, antenatal care during pregnancy and delivery at a health facility.

Trends in contraceptive need and use in developing countries in 2003, 2008, and 2012: an analysis of national surveys.

Background: Data for trends in contraceptive use and need are necessary to guide programme and policy decisions and to monitor progress towards Millennium Development Goal 5, which calls for universal access to contraceptive services. We therefore aimed to estimate trends in contraceptive use and unmet need in developing countries in 2003, 2008, and 2012 .

Methods: We obtained data from national surveys for married and unmarried women aged 15-49 years in regions and subregions of developing countries.

Trends in contraceptive use.

Background: In the past 50-60 years, desired and actual family size have decreased and contraceptive use has increased, especially in developing countries. Unmet need for modern contraceptives and unintended pregnancy levels remain significant.

Study Design: Data compiled by the United Nations and information from national surveys of women of reproductive age are used to examine trends.

Meeting women's contraceptive needs in the Philippines.

The ability to practice contraception is essential to protecting Filipino women's health and rights. Yet low levels of use have led to high levels of unintended pregnancy in the Philippines, for which women and society pay dearly-- in lives, family well-being and public funds.

Contraception: an investment in lives, health and development.

Women's ability to practice contraception is essential to protecting their health and rights. Reproductive health care--including contraceptive services--enables women and their partners to make choices about pregnancy, have healthy babies and protect themselves from infections. Contraception also promotes economic development.

Male fertility control--where are the men?

Control over the timing and number of children continues to be a challenge for many men and women today. While some men are contraceptive users today, current method options are limited. Evidence indicates that many men would welcome more method options, to meet their own needs and goals and to provide a way for them to participate in contraception in a more collaborative way with their partner.

Factors associated with contraceptive choice and inconsistent method use, United States, 2004.

Context: Pregnancies among contraceptive users account for nearly half of all unintended pregnancies and are almost entirely due to inconsistent or incorrect contraceptive use. Understanding what factors contribute to inconsistent contraceptive behavior can help efforts to reduce unintended pregnancy.

Methods: In 2004, a nationally representative sample of women aged 18-44 using reversible contraceptive methods were surveyed to examine factors associated with contraceptive choice and with inconsistent use of the pill and condoms.

Improving contraceptive use in the United States.

The average American woman--who wants two children--spends about three decades trying to avoid pregnancy and only a few years trying to become or being pregnant. Sexually active women who are not seeking pregnancy may nonetheless practice contraception poorly or may not use a method at all. A wide range of reasons explain this seeming contradiction, including personal feelings and beliefs; experiences with methods; fears about side effects; partner influences; cultural values and norms; and problems in the contraceptive care system.

Religious differentials in the sexual and reproductive behaviors of young women in the United States.

Purpose: To examine whether religious involvement and affiliation during early adolescence is associated with reduced levels of sexual risk.

Methods: We used nationally representative data from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) to examine the relationship between religious affiliation and frequency of attendance at religious services at age 14 years and a range of sexual behaviors among women aged 15-24 years, including age of first intercourse, contraceptive use, timing of first family planning visit, timing of birth, and number of sexual partners. The majority of young women had mothers with at least a high school education (79%) and had been living with both parents at age 14 (57%).

A, B and C in Uganda: the roles of abstinence, monogamy and condom use in HIV decline.

Uganda is often cited as a role model in the fight against HIV/AIDS because of its success in reducing both prevalence and incidence of HIV infection since the late 1980s. Although an increase in sexual abstinence has been highlighted as a primary cause of the declines, large increases have also been recorded in monogamy and condom use. The extent to which each of these factors actually influenced the overall decline in Uganda's HIV rates has become a highly charged political issue in the United States, leading to restrictions on how US development funding for combatting HIV is allocated.

U.S. insurance coverage of contraceptives and the impact of contraceptive coverage mandates, 2002.

Context: In 1993, coverage of reversible contraception by U.S. health insurance plans was extremely low.

Factors associated with the content of sex education in U.S. public secondary schools.

Context: While sex education is almost universal in U.S. schools, its content varies considerably.

Services for men at publicly funded family planning agencies, 1998-1999.

Context: Men's reproductive health needs are receiving increased attention, but most family planning clinic clients are female, and clinics have reported barriers to serving men.

Methods: A 1999 survey of publicly funded agencies that administer family planning clinics asked several questions about current policies and services and the number of men served in 1998. Data on 17 services were collected, as well as the proportion of clients who were male and agencies' barriers to serving men.

Issues in measuring HIV prevalence: the case of Nigeria.

This article reviews methodologies and data sources that have been used to measure HIV prevalence and sexual behaviours associated with the transmission of HIV in Nigeria. The review includes 35 studies on HIV prevalence and methodology and 34 studies on sexual behaviour published between 1990 and 2000. As at 1999, 5.

Contraceptive use among U.S. women having abortions in 2000-2001.

Context: Knowing the extent to which contraceptive nonuse, incorrect or inconsistent use, and method failure account for unintended pregnancies ending in abortion, as well as reasons for nonuse and imperfect use, can help policymakers and family planning providers support effective contraceptive use.

Methods: Contraceptive use patterns among a nationally representative sample of 10,683 women receiving abortion services in 2000-2001 were examined, as well as reasons for nonuse, problems with the most frequently used methods and the impact emergency contraceptive pills have had on abortion rates.

Results: Forty-six percent of women had not used a contraceptive method in the month they conceived, mainly because of perceived low risk of pregnancy and concerns about contraception (cited by 33% and 32% of nonusers respectively).

Patterns in the socioeconomic characteristics of women obtaining abortions in 2000-2001.

Context: Information about the socioeconomic characteristics of women obtaining abortions in the United States can help policymakers and family planning providers determine which groups of women need better access to contraceptive services.

Methods: A representative sample of more than 10,000 women obtaining abortions from a stratified probability sample of 100 U.S.

U.S. agencies providing publicly funded contraceptive services in 1999.

Context: Nearly one-quarter of women who obtain medical contraceptive services receive care from clinics operated by publicly funded agencies. In light of changes in government policy and funding and in the structure of health care financing, an assessment of agency policies and programs is essential for monitoring women's access to contraceptive care and services.

Methods: In 1999, 637 of a nationally representative sample of 1,016 U.