Guttmacher at Women Deliver

Women Deliver 2013, a global conference focused on maternal and reproductive health, will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from May 28 to May 30. Guttmacher staff and research will be featured at several events throughout the conference. If you will be at Women Deliver 2013, we invite you to attend the following panel discussions and events and visit our exhibit to hear more about our latest projects...more

New infographic: Banning abortion endangers women’s health

Research shows that making abortion illegal does not stop it from occurring, but rather just drives it underground, forcing women to obtain clandestine and unsafe procedures. Every year, 47,000 women die as a result of unsafe abortions, and millions more are injured, some seriously and permanently. Virtually all of these deaths and injuries take place in countries with highly restrictive abortion laws, and they are almost entirely preventable…more

Little progress in meeting demand for contraception in the world's poorest countries

A new study finds that within the developing world, the poorest countries are lagging far behind higher-income developing countries in meeting the demand for modern contraception. Roughly three-quarters (73%) of the 222 million women in developing countries who want to avoid a pregnancy but are not using a modern method now live in the poorest countries, compared with 67% in 2003. Furthermore, women in the poorest countries who want to avoid pregnancy are only one- third as likely to be using a modern method than those living in higher-income developing countries...more

New guide makes data on young people’s sexual health and rights more accessible

Working in partnership with the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Guttmacher has created a new resource that provides clear explanations of a comprehensive set of indicators of adolescent sexual health and rights and guidance on how to effectively use these data in a variety of contexts including advocacy, sexuality education and service delivery. The guide also provides a wealth of data for 30 featured countries...more

In Tanzania, unsafe abortion is a leading cause of maternal injury and death

© Daniele Cucchi/iStockphotoDespite the country’s restrictive abortion law, many women in Tanzania resort to abortion when faced with an unintended pregnancy. A new report finds that virtually all abortions in the country are unsafe, posing grave risks to women’s health. According to the Tanzanian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, 16% of all maternal deaths in the country result from complications of clandestine abortions. Some small-scale studies show that in some parts of the country this figure may be high as 25%...more

Family planning is key to healthy pregnancies and births

In the United States, an estimated 11,300 babies die each year on the day they are born, according to a new report from Save the Children. The alarming report has clear implications for U.S. policy, particularly the importance of investing in and expanding the reach of programs like Medicaid and Title X that make affordable pregnancy-related care and family planning services available to millions of women otherwise unable to obtain such care...more

Many women find it difficult to pay for abortion

Most women who have abortions have either public or private health insurance, but most still pay out-of-pocket for abortion services. The most common reason is that they believe their plan doesn’t cover the procedure. Many women report that it is difficult for them to pay for their abortion and more than half of abortion patients surveyed reported that they relied on someone else to help pay some or all of the costs…more

On emergency contraception, the administration does a disservice to young women—again

Recent moves by the Obama administration to require age and point-of-sale restrictions for emergency contraception continue to erect barriers to young and marginalized women’s timely access to this safe and effective contraceptive method. The administration’s actions represent a rejection of evidence-based policy-making that will only make it harder for teens and other women to prevent unintended pregnancies...more

In Rwanda, notwithstanding considerable increases, contraceptive use not keeping pace with desire for smaller families

© Guenter Guni/iStockPhotoFindings from the first national study of the incidence of unintended pregnancy and abortion in Rwanda show that nearly half of all pregnancies in the country are unintended. Approximately 22% of these pregnancies end in abortion, virtually all of which occur outside of the formal health system where safety cannot be assured...more

State policy trends 2013: Abortion bans move to the fore

In the first three months of 2013, state legislators introduced 694 provisions related to reproductive health and rights, 93 of which have been approved by at least one legislative body. Abortion restrictions once again feature prominently, in particular attempts to ban abortion outright…more

In Ethiopia, most girls who marry before 18 have never been to school

© Ton Koene/Visuals Unlimited/CorbisAccording to a new study, the lack of educational opportunities for girls is fueling Ethiopia’s high level of early marriage. Of the 20–24-year-old women surveyed, most of those who had married before age 15 had never been to school (79%) and only 3% had attained any secondary schooling. Adolescents married at a younger age were also found to face greater health risks and risks of forced sex than older adolescents. While virtually all women reported that their first sexual relations had been with their spouse, those who had married before age 15 were far less likely to have wanted to have sex than were those who had married at ages 18–19...more

Sexual activity is and has long been rare among young adolescents

Very few early adolescents (boys or girls) have had sex, and the incidence of pregnancy among girls aged 12 or younger is minuscule. But adolescence is a time of rapid change, and sexual activity is more common among older teens. Moreover, this pattern has prevailed for decades: A low level of sexual activity among young adolescents has long been the norm, while sexual initiation later in adolescence has been and remains a normal part of teens’ development process...more

Guttmacher mourns the loss of Cory L. Richards,
Executive Vice President and Vice President for Public Policy

The Board of Directors and staff of the Guttmacher Institute are devastated by the loss of our distinguished and beloved colleague Cory L. Richards, who died of pancreatic cancer on April 4, at age 64. After almost 40 years, including 25 as part of Guttmacher’s senior leadership, Cory leaves a profound mark on our organization and on those who were fortunate enough to work with him. The passion and vision he brought to his work, as well as his wit, confidence and courage, will be missed sorely by his family, friends and colleagues, as well as the sexual and reproductive health community he served with such dedication and skill…more

Immigration reform must extend access to health insurance coverage

As Congress debates immigration reform, policymakers should heed the strong public health and fiscal arguments for eliminating legal obstacles to affordable public and private health insurance coverage for immigrants. Among many other benefits, such policy changes would improve immigrant women’s ability to obtain the full scope of contraceptive services and supplies, comprehensive maternity care, and a range of other preventive health services…more

Review of scientific literature documents significant social and economic benefits of contraception

The ability to delay and space childbearing is crucial to women’s societal and economic advancement, according to a new Guttmacher Institute review of the scientific literature. The review underscores that women’s ability to obtain and effectively use contraceptives has a positive impact on their education and workforce participation, as well as on subsequent outcomes related to income, family stability, mental health and happiness, and the well-being of their children...more

The March 2013 issue of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health is now available

The March 2013 issue of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health is now available online. Click here to find out what is in this issue.

2008 state-level teen pregnancy data now available

Aliyev Alexei Sergeevich/ShutterstockTeen pregnancy rates declined steadily in all 50 states between 1988 and 2005. However, between 2005 and 2008, the teen pregnancy rate decreased by 5% or more in 7 states, while increasing by 5% or more in 16 states. While these short-term increases are troubling, recent evidence suggests that teen pregnancy rates will continue their long-term declines. The highest teen pregnancy rates were found in New Mexico (93 per 1,000 women aged 15–19), followed by Mississippi, Texas, Nevada, Arkansas and Arizona. The lowest rates were in New Hampshire (33 per 1,000), Vermont, Minnesota, North Dakota and Massachusetts…more

In Uganda, slow pace in scaling up access to reproductive health care services costs thousands of lives and billions of shillings

Andrew Aitchison/In Pictures/CorbisAccording to a new Guttmacher report, one in three sexually active women in Uganda, both married and unmarried, want to avoid pregnancy but are not using a method of contraception. Only 26% of married women and 38% of unmarried women in the country use a modern method, and more than half of all pregnancies are unintended…more

New rules aim to find workable compromise for contraceptive coverage guarantee

The Obama administration on Friday proposed new rules clarifying how women covered by most private health plans will have contraceptive coverage without cost-sharing as guaranteed under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), while addressing objections by some religious employers. The new rules appear to be largely consistent with what the administration had previously outlined, providing an exemption for a narrow group of religious employers closely tied to houses of worship and an accommodation for a broader group of self-declared religious nonprofit organizations...more

Also see our video on the benefits of contraceptive use.

In Ghana, inequities in access to safe abortion services keep unsafe abortion rates stubbornly high

Carl & Ann Purcell/CORBISA new study by the Guttmacher Institute found that in Ghana, a woman's socioeconomic status largely determines how safe her abortion will be. While middle- and upper-income women in urban areas are more likely than other women to have an abortion, women who are young, poor or without support of a partner are at greatest risk of having an unsafe abortion and experiencing injury or death…more

Call for nominations: The 2013 Darroch Award

The Darroch Award, sponsored by the Guttmacher Institute, recognizes an emerging leader who is a researcher in the field of sexual and reproductive health, where scientific evidence is essential to guiding the policies and programs of the future.

The award honors Jacqueline E. Darroch, Ph.D., whose three decades of directing research exemplified rigorous and innovative work in this field and commitment to the practical application of research to policy and programs. The award aims to recognize and stimulate such work.

The deadline for nominations is May 17, 2013. Click here to download a nomination form. Click here for more information about the Darroch Award.

Roe at 40: New infographics illustrate key facts about abortion

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Marking the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Guttmacher Institute has created a series of five infographics illustrating key facts about abortion in the United States. These graphics aim to ensure that the national debate on abortion is guided by facts, not misinformation. Click here to see the full series. We encourage you to use these graphics and share them with your friends, family and colleagues.

2012 saw second-highest number of abortion restrictions ever

In 2012, 42 states and the District of Columbia enacted 122 provisions related to reproductive health and rights. One-third of these new provisions, 43 in 19 states, sought to restrict access to abortion services. Although this is a sharp decrease from the record-breaking 92 abortion restrictions enacted in 2011, it is the second highest number of new abortion restrictions passed in a year...more

State facts about unintended pregnancy: New tool provides comprehensive overview

For women and families, births resulting from unintended pregnancies have been linked to adverse maternal and child health outcomes and myriad social and economic challenges. Births stemming from unintended pregnancy are also costly to the federal and state governments. To provide a one-stop resource and comprehensive overview, our new tool offers more than two dozen state-specific indicators related to unintended pregnancy…more

Also see our Medicaid state fact sheets.

Video: Evidence in Action

Our new video describes how the Institute's unique model of research and action makes an impact on policies and programs worldwide. Please watch the video and consider making a year-end donation to Guttmacher…more

Everything old is new again—debunked criticism of Guttmacher methodology resurfaces

In the December 2012 issue of the International Journal of Women’s Health, Elard Koch, of Chile's Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception, and colleagues criticize a Guttmacher Institute methodology for estimating the incidence of induced abortions and resulting complications in countries where the procedure is legally restricted. The critique largely recycles misleading arguments previously made by Koch which Guttmacher comprehensively rebutted in July 2012… more (English) (Spanish)

Coercion in reproductive decision making occurs in many settings—and in both directions

Forcing a woman to terminate a pregnancy she wants is wrong, and so is forcing her to continue a pregnancy that she does not want, concludes a new Guttmacher Institute policy analysis. Each case violates women’s basic human rights: the right to decide freely whether and when to bear a child and the right to have that decision respected by the government...more

Video: Abortion Worldwide

In the developing world, an estimated 40 million abortions will take place in 2012. Most of these procedures will be clandestine and unsafe, taking a terrible toll on women’s lives. This video presents key evidence on abortion worldwide to help ensure that the global debate on abortion is informed by facts and not misinformation...more

Spanish and French versions of this video and the accompanying summary of key points are also available.

Full video transcripts are available in English, Spanish and French.

Women use contraception to better achieve their life goals

Mark Bowden/iStockphotoA new study confirms what many have long believed to be true: women use contraception because it allows them to better care for themselves and their families, complete their education and achieve economic security. These findings further document the value of ensuring women’s continued and increased access to a full range of contraceptive services and methods…more

Also see our video on the benefits of contraceptive use in the United States in English and Spanish.

Contraception editorial analyzes impact of Supreme Court’s ACA decision on reproductive health

The U.S. Supreme Court's June 28 ruling upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) helps ensure that tens of millions of Americans will be able to receive comprehensive health coverage, including strong coverage of reproductive health services (with the notable exception of abortion). However, the Court’s ruling that states cannot be compelled to go along with the ACA's Medicaid expansion potentially jeopardizes coverage for millions of the poorest Americans. Beyond the uncertainty surrounding Medicaid, additional legal, political and technical challenges loom large, according to a Guttmacher editorial in the journal Contraception...more

Little progress made in meeting demand for contraception in the developing world

©WorldViewImages.comA new study by the Guttmacher Institute and the United Nations Population Fund finds that the number of women in developing countries who want to avoid pregnancy but are not using modern contraceptives declined only slightly between 2008 and 2012. However, in the 69 poorest countries—where 73% of all women with unmet need for modern contraceptives reside—the number actually increased, from 153 million to 162 million women. The report also documents the dramatic benefits that would result if the demand for modern contraception were met...more