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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
The case for investing in family planning in the Pacific: Costs and benefits of reducing unmet need for contraception in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands
Reproductive Health, Volume 10, No. 1, Article 30, Year 2013
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Description
Background: Unmet need for family planning in the Pacific is among the highest in the world. Better understanding of required investments and associated benefits of increased access to family planning in the Pacific may assist prioritisation and funding. Methods. We modelled the costs and associated health, demographic and economic impacts of reducing unmet need for family planning between 2010-2025 in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. Baseline data were obtained from census reports, Demographic and Health Surveys, and UN agency reports. Using a demographic modelling program we compared a scenario of "no change in unmet need" with two distinct scenarios: 1) all family planning needs met by 2020; and, 2) all needs met by 2050. Results: Meeting family planning needs by 2020 would increase prevalence of modern contraception in 2025 from 36.8 to 65.5% in Vanuatu and 28.5 to 37.6% in the Solomon Islands. Between 2010-2025 the average annual number of unintended pregnancies would decline by 68% in Vanuatu and 50% in the Solomon Islands, and high-risk births would fall by more than 20%, averting 2,573 maternal and infant deaths. Total fertility rates would fall from 4.1 to 2.2 in Vanuatu and 3.5 in the Solomon Islands, contributing to slowed population growth and lower dependency ratios. The direct cost of reducing unmet need by 2020 was estimated to be $5.19 million for Vanuatu and $3.36 million for the Solomon Islands between 2010-2025. Preventing unintended pregnancies would save $112 million in health and education expenditure. Conclusions: In small island developing states such as Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, increasing investment in family planning would contribute to improved maternal and infant outcomes and substantial public sector savings. © 2013 Kennedy et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Kennedy, Elissa Clare
Australia, Melbourne
Burnet Institute
Australia, Clayton
Monash University
Mackesy-Buckley, Sean
New Zealand, Wellington
Family Planning International
Subramaniam, Sumi
New Zealand, Wellington
Family Planning International
Demmke, Andreas
Cook Islands
Independent Consultant
Latu, Rufina
Vanuatu
Health Systems Development
Robertson, Annette Sachs
United States, New York
United Nations Population Fund
Tiban, Kabwea
United Kingdom, London
International Planned Parenthood Federation
Tokon, Apisai
Vanuatu, Port Vila
Ministry of Health
Luchters, Stanley M.F.
Australia, Melbourne
Burnet Institute
Australia, Clayton
Monash University
South Africa, Johannesburg
Wits School of Public Health
Belgium, Ghent
Universiteit Gent
Statistics
Citations: 36
Authors: 9
Affiliations: 10
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1742-4755-10-30
e-ISSN:
17424755
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Maternal And Child Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study