USAID Family Planning Program:
A History of Achievement
- Since USAID’s family planning program began in
1965, the average number of children per family
in the developing world (excluding China) has
dropped from six to four.
- USAID provides 35 – 40 percent of donor-provided
contraceptives to the developing world and
supplies nearly 30 family planning programs in 20
countries with technical and logistical support.
- Contraceptive use has increased in many parts of
the world. In Brazil, a country that has “graduated” from USAID family planning assistance, contraceptive
use exceeds the 50 percent mark.
- USAID supports the Demographic and Health
Surveys, the world’s largest survey research
effort. Since 1972, results from more than 70
countries have revolutionized our understanding
of family planning and health dynamics.
- Support for safer and more effective family planning
methods has brought many technical
advances, including natural family planning
methods, improved oral contraceptives, barrier
methods, and NORPLANTª.
- USAID works to improve contraceptive
security. Contraceptive security exists
when every person is able to choose,
obtain, and use high-quality contraceptives
whenever she or he wants them.
- To increase access to family planning services, USAID introduced
such innovations as door-to-door
distribution, mobile clinic services, and
employee-based health care programs.
- USAID programs have trained networks
of midwives, healers, and traditional
birth attendants to provide family planning
services. These networks increase
the quality of family planning services and their availability.
- Private-sector initiatives have expanded
contraceptive social marketing, pursued
joint projects with commercial providers,
worked with media and entertainment
industries in communication
campaigns, and encouraged employers
to include family planning in health
benefits packages.
- USAID helps governments review
policies, restrictive or nonessential
regulations, and product bans that are
barriers to private-sector involvement
in offering family planning services.
Learn more about USAID’s Family Planning Program
Timeline
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