Contraception

Fertility and population growth rates are higher in Africa than in any other continent in the world. Over the past decade, increases in contraceptive use in Africa led to a slight decline in birth rates, which is still not enough to slow down the rapid population growth and ensure economic development. Level and trend of contraceptive use, specific methods used, and relations between fertility and contraception were derived from the United Nations Population Division data. Indicators of discontinuation, reasons for discontinuation, and unmet need for family planning were derived from Demographic and Health Surveys. Data were analyzed in major regions of Africa. Evidence showed that the progress towards contraceptive adoption is very slow in Western and Central African countries, with a risk of population size exceeding the United Nations population projections. The prospects for a future fertility decline are much more positive in Southern Africa, followed by Northern and Eastern Africa. Addressing contraceptive needs would be a starting point in furthering fertility decline in countries with low contraceptive prevalence and high fertility.