The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) says nearly half of all pregnancies in the world, 121 million each year, are unintended. 

The figure was disclosed in the State of World Population 2022 report.

The report, an annual flagship publication released by UNFPA on Tuesday, also stated that for the women and girls affected, the most life-altering reproductive choice – whether or not to become pregnant – is no choice at all.

The groundbreaking report, ‘Seeing the Unseen: The case for action in the neglected crisis of unintended pregnancy’, warned that this human rights crisis had profound consequences for societies, women and girls and global health.

According to the report, more than 60 per cent of unintended pregnancies end in abortion, and an estimated 45 per cent of all abortions are unsafe, causing five to 13 per cent of all maternal deaths.

The report also stated that this was having a major impact on the world’s ability to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“This report is a wake-up call. The staggering number of unintended pregnancies represents a global failure to uphold women and girls’ basic human rights,” said UNFPA executive director Natalia Kanem. “For the women affected, the most life-altering reproductive choice – whether or not to become pregnant – is no choice at all.”

According to the key findings, gender inequality and stalled development drive high rates of unintended pregnancies.

It stated that globally, an estimated 257 million women who wanted to avoid pregnancy were not using safe and modern methods of contraception, and where data is available, nearly a quarter of all women were not able to say no to sex.

“An unintended pregnancy is not necessarily a personal failure and may be due to the lack of autonomy society allows or the value placed on women’s lives,” the report stated.

The report also warned that the war in Ukraine and other conflicts and crises around the world are expected to drive an increase in unintended pregnancies as access to contraception is disrupted, and sexual violence increases.

It stated that when a crisis hits, unintended pregnancies climb.

The report showed how easily the most fundamental rights of women and girls were pushed to the backburner in times of peace and during wars.

It called on decision-makers and health systems to prioritise the prevention of unintended pregnancies by improving the accessibility, acceptability, quality and variety of contraception and greatly expanding quality sexual and reproductive health care and information.

It urged policymakers, community leaders and all individuals to empower women and girls to make affirmative decisions about sex, contraception and motherhood and foster societies that recognise the full worth of women and girls.

It stated that if such was done, women and girls would be able to contribute fully to society and have the tools, information and power to make this fundamental choice – to have children or not – for themselves. 

(NAN)