In Pakistan, there is a clear imbalance between the population’s needs
and available resources to cater for spacing and limiting childbirth as
desired by couples. The Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey
(PDHS) 2012-13 cited a mere 26% of married women of
reproductive age (15-49 years) using any form of modern
contraceptives, which is one of the lowest levels of modern
contraceptive uptake in the South Asian region following Afghanistan.
In 2012, almost half (4.15 million) of an estimated 9 million
pregnancies were unintended in Pakistan. Between 2002-2012, the
unintended pregnancy rate soared from 71 to 93 per 1,000 women
aged 15-49 – an estimated 54% (2.25 million) unwanted pregnancies
ended in abortion, 34% (1.4 million) led to unplanned births and 12%
(0.5 million) resulted in miscarriages. With the total population of
Pakistan currently at 182 million, this presents a significant challenge.