These pages contain PDF files which require Adobe Acrobat Reader. Nearly 600,000 women die annually from preventable pregnancy-related causes. Studies show that one in four maternal deaths can be prevented through family planning. Pregnancies among very young women and women with many children, and unwanted pregnancies are all associated with increased likelihood of mortality.
Women account for nearly half of new infections.
Half of the newly infected are also under 25 years of age. Now more than ever, these services and programs are needed to save lives and protect health. More than 75,000 women die each year due to unsafe abortion. Increased use of family planning, by preventing unintended pregnancies, could help avoid many of these deaths, along with treatment for abortion complications. Experience with expanded family planning services in Russia, Romania, Turkey, and the Central Asian Republics since 1990 has proven that increased use of contraception greatly reduces women's reliance on abortion.