Global Trends in Family Planning Programs, 1999-2014

CONTEXT: Since 1972, the Family Planning Effort Index has measured national family planning program activities in developing countries and provided a longitudinal perspective on a standardized set of program characteristics. METHODS: In 2014, experts in 90 developing countries assessed national family planning program effort in four main component areas policies, services, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and access to methods using a standardized questionnaire. Results were compared with previous years'data. RESULTS: Globally, family planning program effort has progressed in all four main component areas. The service component, historically the weakest,was rated lowest of all components in 2014, at 47% of the maximum effort, despite a marked improvement of 7.6 percentage points since 1999. Policies, generally the strongest component, remained the strongest in 2014, with 55% of the maximum score and a 6.7 percentage-point improvement since 1999. Monitoring and evaluation improved the most, by 7.8 percentage points, from 45% to 53%, while access improved more modestly, by 2.7 points, from 49% to 52%. Family planning efforts were generally strongest in Asia and Oceania and generally weakest in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. CONCLUSIONS: Global family planning programs have improved consistently over the last few decades, although there is room for further development in all regions.