Govt to encourage wider use of contraception
In a bid to lower maternal and child morbidity and mortality, Laos will aim to reduce the unmet need for contraception to 13 percent and increase the contraceptive prevalence rate using at least one method from 42 to 65 percent by 2020. The nation’s unmet need for family planning remains high at 20 percent, and as high as 31 percent among some ethnic groups. The adolescent birth rate is 76 live births per 1,000 girls in the 15-19 age group, adolescent contraceptive use is low at 22.3 percent, and the unmet need for contraception is 22.6 percent.
These statistics were highlighted at the first National Family Planning Conference held in Vientiane on Tuesday under the theme “Investing in Family Planning for Economic Prosperity”, with the support of the United Nations Population Fund. The conference was presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Dr Sonexay Siphandone with representatives from UNFPA, World Health Organisation and World Bank also attending.
