Birth control in Africa

Access to safe and adequate sexual and reproductive healthcare constitutes part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as upheld by the United Nations. Most countries in Africa have some of the lowest rates of contraceptive use; highest maternal, infant, and child mortality rates; and highest fertility rates in the world. 45% of pregnancies that occur among adolescents in Africa are unplanned. It is estimated that 1 in 3 pregnancies that are unintended in Africa occur among girls between the ages of 15 and 19.