Trend Analysis of Contraceptive Usage and Reasons of Low Contraceptive Use in Pakistan: A Narrative Review on Available Literature

Abstract

The Pakistani government has been struggling continuously to slow down the population rise despite making easy accessibility of family planning services. Various factors including economic crisis, poverty, unemployment, and inflation have been identified that influence family planning practices leading to a low contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR). The main aim of this review was to understand the positive and negative predictors and the trends of contraceptive use. Pakistan, currently facing the issues of high morbidity and mortality of mother and child as a consequence of low CPR secondary to the high risk of unplanned and/or teenage pregnancies, abortion, and miscarriages. Low CPR produces a drastic effect on the nation's economy, as a high growth rate causes uncontrolled urbanization. Old age, education, and mothers' employment, wealth, and better lifestyle have positive influences while it is evident rural life, traditional religion, illiteracy, poverty, non-working mothers, and fear of side effects, etc. navigate low CPR. Although contraception in terms of modern contraceptive techniques has increased in Pakistan over the past two decades, still there is a need for efforts to increase CPR among reproductive and fertile age groups. Further, interventions such as the provision of affordable family planning practices and facilitating access to women near their homes, improving awareness must be targeted as a priority.