Population Health - The Importance of Family Planning Programs

The Importance of Family Planning Programs

Family planning programs (including contraceptives, sexuality education, and promotion of safe sex) play a major role in population health. Family planning is one of the most highly cost-effective interventions in medicine. Family planning saves lives and money by reducing unintended pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections.

For example, the United States Agency for International Development lists as benefits of its international family planning program:

  • "Protecting the health of women by reducing high-risk pregnancies"
  • "Protecting the health of children by allowing sufficient time between pregnancies"
  • "Fighting HIV/AIDS through providing information, counseling, and access to male and female condoms"
  • "Reducing abortions"
  • "Supporting women's rights and opportunities for education, employment, and full participation in society"
  • "Protecting the environment by stabilizing population growth"

Read more about this topic:  Population Health

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