Continued inequalities in access to contraceptive choice in Europe

On March 24, 2015, the International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network (IPPF EN) launched a new Barometer of Women’s Access to Modern Contraceptive Choice in 16 EU Countries (Extended). This report analyses how easily women in 16 EU countries (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, and Sweden) can access modern contraceptives. Similarly to the previous Barometer report, this new edition finds that, overall, the situation in most countries has stagnated or worsened in recent years. Although women’s access to modern contraceptives varies significantly from one EU country to the next, overall, there are growing obstacles to women getting the contraception they need due to austerity measures, financial constraints, and political and economic instability, among others. IPPF EN calls on decision-makers at all levels to implement a comprehensive approach to contraceptive choice in Europe to ensure the wellbeing of women and adolescent girls.

As IPPF EN states, “There is a major gap in research and data collection in Europe on SRHR, including access to modern contraception. This hampers evidence-based policy making that could improve the health and wellbeing of women and girls. We strongly urge EU decision-makers to boost investment in research and data collection.” ECEC works hard to fill this gap on EC-related issues and to increase knowledge on EC access across the European region.