By Kuda Pembere
The latest modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate in Zimbabwe stands at 69 percent up 1 percent from 68 percent in 2021.
This was attributed to the partnership between the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Despite this enviable CPR, the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) acting executive director Mr Farai Machinga said they while they are aiming to get the unmet need for family planning at 6 percent, they are at 10 percent which has not changed from 2022.
And from the partnership which we have with UNFPA, we’ve managed to make remarkable strides in terms of key indicators in family planning, where as a country we are now very much comfortable as one of the greatest African countries with the highest modern contraceptive prevalence rate at 69%, and our unmet need is now at 10% whereas we are targeting 6%,” he said.
While explaining that the unmet need for family planning implied that the 10 percent had no access to FP services despite requiring them, he called for investment to reach as many women as possible.
“It really means that we still have a long way to go and we still have a lot to do. So to the country it means we still need to mobilize more resources.
“And our commitments, if you, I can also draw you back to the ICPD commitments from the Abuja Declaration, where we then committed ourselves to ensure that we have zero unmet need for family planning.
“So it means that we still have more challenges in terms of awareness, increasing awareness within the communities, educating the communities in terms of the pros and cons and also the benefits of family planning.
“And from the assessments which were conducted previously, it also shows that if you invest a dollar in family planning, you would have saved four-fold in terms of US dollars, which means that if we are to reduce the unmet need, it means that some of the funds would then be directed to other developmental issues.
“So the impact is still on the issues to do with the subsequent consequences of unmet need for family planning, which is among others unplanned pregnancies or unintended pregnancies. And you can also relate to the teenage pregnancies as well. You can also relate to unsafe abortions where we then have an increase in terms of maternal related death,” Mr Machinga said.
Mr Machinga also explained that the modern CPR was for married women.
“Okay, so when we talk of modern contraceptive prevalence rate, the 69% is for the married women. When we are looking at the total population of the married women, and we are saying for all those who are married, who required family planning services, 69% of them are accessing and utilizing family planning,” he said.
In a statement marking World Contraception Day last year, UNFPA country representative Miranda Tabifor commended the Zimbabwe government for its commitment to the provision of contraceptives.
“UNFPA extends its hearty congratulations to Zimbabwe for being one the few countries to be awarded additional financing for reproductive health and family planning commodities through the UNFPA Supplies Match Fund. Our continued partnership and efforts will ensure that we achieve the unmet need for a family planning agenda,” she said.
