‘Most adolescents have no family planning info’

Both are effective since the objective of empowering women to take charge of their own bodies and their futures is at play. When young women delay their first pregnancy, they’re more likely to have higher educational achievement and gain the skills needed to be gainfully employed, which brings economic benefits. This kick-starts a virtuous cycle of more healthy newborns, better maternal health and more productive families. For every 10% more girls going to school, some countries show GDP can rise by as much as 3%. the private sector plays a crucial role in delivering family planning information and services to women who need them. Countries like India often struggle to meet the health needs of citizens as private providers are mostly under-regulated and underdelivering, while public health systems are overburdened.

Robust data systems are needed to ensure quality family planning services are made accessible to women in need. With the introduction of more contraceptive choices, there is a focused effort in India too to provide information and services to newly married women and post-partum women, the national adolescent health programme, and an overall emphasis on improving the quality of counselling and follow up care through innovative digital platforms (though not yet at scale) are likely to show signi- ficant impact, not just on fertility, but on the health and empowerment of women, as well as their children and families.