Promoting gender equality within family planning programs: An analysis of USAID projects

摘要

Gender norms present barriers to contraceptive use and contribute to high rates of unmet need for contraceptives. In the developing world, complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth present the leading threat to the health and lives of women of reproductive age. Mortalities and morbidities resulting from unintended pregnancies are a significant public health issue. Meeting women’s need for contraception could prevent 53 million unintended pregnancies, 15 million unsafe abortions, and 90,000 maternal deaths each year. International family planning programs actively address gender inequality as a means of decreasing unmet need for contraception. The United States Agency for International Development conducts family planning and reproductive health projects in more than 45 countries and positions gender equality at the center of its development work. This paper is a gender analysis of 19 United States Agency for International Development projects initiated between 2009 and 2015, and is based on publicly available project reports and website descriptions. Projects are classified using the Gender Equality Continuum Tool, case studies are reviewed, and common approaches to promote gender equality are discussed. Key findings, limitations, and promising paths forward are presented.