Death rates from deliveries and abortions are especially high among those younger than 18 years. Increased use of family planning methods will, over time, reduce the proportion of women and children exposed to these fertility-related risk factors by enabling individuals and couples to exercise more control over their fertility. Some 9 percent of women are using modern methods, while 6 percent use traditional methods. Approximately 90 percent of sexually active women report being aware of at least one modern contraceptive method. Although the pill is the modern contraceptive most commonly used, access to it is still limited.
Many service providers have limited knowledge of and skills in providing family planning services.
More than 50 percent of 75 service providers at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka revealed that they did not feel confident about counseling women on contraception. This condition is worse in rural areas. Young People Traditional social institutions that once constrained sexual activity have diminished. Thus, although girls today marry later than their predecessors did, many are sexually active before marriage. Sexually active girls face a high risk of becoming pregnant.