Are Family Planning Programs Reaching the Disadvantaged? an Equity Case Study of Uganda
POLICY Brief September 2020 Are Family Planning Programs Reaching Authors: Kaja Jurczynska, the Disadvantaged? Kevin Ward, Lyubov Teplitskaya, Shiza Farid, and Kristin Bietsch An Equity Case Study of Uganda Introduction In just over a decade, the share of married women using modern methods of contraception in Uganda nearly doubled, increasing Equity in health means that from 18 percent in 2006 to 35 percent in 2016, and to a further 37 everyone has a fair opportunity 1 percent in 2019 (UBOS and ICF, 2018; FP2020, 2020). Uganda to reach their health potential, has cemented its commitment to family planning through the regardless of wealth, education, country’s first Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan for sex, age, race or ethnic group, 2015–2020 and subsequent pledges under the Family Planning residence, disability, and other 2020 (FP2020) partnership. Among its goals, Uganda has status or social group. committed to reducing inequities, particularly for those living in rural areas, adolescents, and those facing financial hardship (Ministry of Health, 2014; FP2020, 2017). Despite this progress, Uganda has experienced challenges in Box 1. HP’s Approach for meeting its family planning commitments for 2020 and 2021, Diagnosing Inequity in including those that are equity focused. For example, unmet Family Planning Programs need is higher than desired, at one quarter of all married women compared to the goal of 10 percent by 2020. The use of modern The approach answers the “who, contraceptive methods lags behind the 2020 goal of 50 percent what, and where” of inequities in (FP2020, 2019). While inadequate funding of family planning family planning: activities remains a key barrier to progress (Wanyana et al., 2019), better directing information and services for those women who • Who is experiencing inequity? need them most could address longstanding inequities while also • What components of bolstering uptake and improving allocative efficiency.
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