Why Family Planning Matters Contraceptives are as vital to saving lives as vaccines, antibiotics or obstetric care. There are literally millions of women with an unmet need for family planning. More than 120 million women would like to postpone or stop childbearing, but are not accessing contraceptive services. Furthermore, the numbers of women of reproductive age continue to grow. Demands for family planning information and services will only continue to grow.
Family planning is needed to save children's lives.
The pattern of childbearing is closely related to child survival. In particular, short birth intervals significantly increase the likelihood of infant and child mortality. A study by Shea Rutstein of Macro International showed that eliminating short birth intervals could save 1.4 million lives per year in India alone. Family planning is needed to save women's lives. Approximately 585,000 women die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth each year.