Most used contraceptives in developing countries
Below are the contraceptives currently most widely used in developing countries, having been favored by international organizations in their aim of reducing population growth in the countries concerned.
Intra-uterine devices
The most widely used contraceptive method in developing countries and in the World Health Organization’s birth control programs.
Injectable contraceptives
Depo-Provera (quarterly injectable contraceptive) has become “a symbol of ‘population control policies’”. The fact is that “abuses have been regularly reported, in the form of injection campaigns orchestrated by some Health Ministries, without women being submitted to these injections being adequately informed of their effect”. Indeed, the prolonged use of Depo-Provera may cause “a loss in bone density”, a loss “only partially reversible. It is therefore recommended not to use it for over two consecutive years. It should in fact only be used if other methods of birth control do not suit the person concerned”.
Other injectable contraceptives, that are monthly, have been introduced in family planning programs. They try to remedy the inconvenience of haemorrhages caused by Depo-Provera, by combining an estrogen with the progestogen: the HRP112 or CycloProvera or CycloFem, and the HRP102 or Mesigyna.
Implants
“Norplant has been the focus of an important ethical debate, associated with the way it has been promoted by family planning lobbies to limit births in poor countries. The fact that Norplant has undergone clinical tests in developing countries only and that the true nature of the product has not always been disclosed to patients in whom the rods were implanted has given the product a poor image from the outset. The fact that Norplant campaigns have frequently been coercive or involved abuse of trust and have always taken place in poor countries, combined with problems associated with the implantation of the rods, haemorrhaging in patients and difficulties encountered by women wanting the rods removed, have served to exacerbate the poor image of this product”.
“Emergency contraception” and RU 486
These techniques have been “particularly recommended for ‘population control’ purposes in countries where the law prohibits abortion (for example, Muslim countries)”.
Other methods
“Other methods are also used in developing countries, so far in the well-off sectors of society. These are:
- Traditional oral contraception;
- Emergency contraception, practically used as an ordinary contraceptive;
- Contragestion by way of mifepristone, which is also beginning to be used in these countries, especially where the law prohibits abortion but where RU486 can be obtained”.
According to World Contraceptive Use, in 2005:
- Contraception was used by 68.9% of women in developed countries, 59.2% of women in developing countries.
- The pill was used by 15.9% of women in developed countries, 6.2% of women in developing countries (5.8% in 1998).
- Injections or implants were used by 0.7% of women in developed countries, 3.6% of women in developing countries.
- Barrier contraceptives (condoms) were used by 17% of women in developed countries, 3.4% of women in developing countries (3.2% in 1998).
- Intra-uterine devices were used by 7.6% of women in developed countries, 14.5% of women in developing countries (26% in 1998). They are the most widely used contraceptive method in the world: 160 million women used it in 2002, 2/3 of which were in China.
- Sterilization remains the most widely used birth control method in the world, but its use is beginning to decline: in 2005, 24% of people used it, 24.3% in developing countries, and 14.6% in developed countries (39% in 1998, of which 45% in developing countries and 19% in developed countries).