Nearly half of all pregnancies globally are unintended — UNFPA

Representative photo of pregnancy test (Photo courtesy of Pixabay)

By Gabriela Baron

Nearly half of all pregnancies in the world are unintended, data from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) revealed.

In its report, UNFPA said an estimated 257 million women in developing regions who want to avoid pregnancy “are not using safe and effective family planning methods.”

UNFPA attributed this to the lack of access to information or services to the absence of support from their partners or communities.

“Access to safe, voluntary family planning is a human right. Family planning is central to gender equality and women’s empowerment, and it is a key factor in reducing poverty,” UNFPA noted.

In the Philippines, about 1.26 million Filipino women and girls induced abortion in 2020, according to the Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network.

Abortion, meanwhile, is still illegal in the Philippines, however, criminalization of abortion has not prevented abortion but instead made the procedure unsafe and deadly for over half a million each year who try to terminate their pregnancies.

READ MORE: 1.26-M Filipino women, girls induced abortion in 2020 – group

UNFPA, a United Nations-attached agency, aims to support family planning through ensuring a steady and reliable supply of contraceptives as well as advocating for policies supportive of family planning.

Popular

‘Best is yet to come’: PBBM rallies Alex Eala after WTA finals debut

By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency On Sunday, June 29, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. offered words of encouragement to tennis sensation Alex...

DOH opens online mental health support for Filipinos in Israel

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora | Philippine News Agency The Department of Health (DOH) is extending psychosocial support to overseas Filipinos in Israel affected by...

PBBM reminds AETC to ensure quality training for future airmen

By Brian Campued President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to ensure that...

DOJ ‘indirectly’ cooperating with ICC to help drug war witnesses — Palace

By Brian Campued The Department of Justice (DOJ) is focused on helping the witnesses who wish to testify against former President Rodrigo Duterte to give...