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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In Zambia, you can purchase oral contraceptives (birth control pills) over-the-counter at pharmacies. No prescription is needed.<ref>[http://ocsotc.org/wp-content/uploads/worldmap/worldmap.html Global Oral Contraception Availability]</ref> <ref>[http://freethepill.org/where-on-earth/ Free the Pill: Where on Earth]</ref> You can also find other contraceptive methods, such as implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs), available at clinics and hospitals. | In Zambia, you can purchase oral contraceptives (birth control pills) over-the-counter at pharmacies. No prescription is needed.<ref>[http://ocsotc.org/wp-content/uploads/worldmap/worldmap.html Global Oral Contraception Availability]</ref> <ref>[http://freethepill.org/where-on-earth/ Free the Pill: Where on Earth]</ref> You can also find other contraceptive methods, such as implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs), available at clinics and hospitals. For rural women, they can access certain contraceptive methods from from Community Based Distributors (CBDs).<ref>[https://www.ippf.org/blogs/overcoming-family-planning-challenges-zambia Overcoming family planning challenges in Zambia]</ref> | ||
Generally speaking, Zambia has a high fertility rate (nearly 6 children per woman), making it the country with the eighth highest fertility rate in the world.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/za.html CIA World Factbook7]</ref> According to a 2015 United Nations report, it was found that about 52% of Zambian women (who were of reproductive age and married/in unions) used any form of contraception, including traditional methods. This rate was notably higher than the Eastern African regional average for contraceptive use among women in 2015 (40%). The most common contraceptive methods for Zambian women were found to be contraceptive injectables (20%), birth control pills (12%), and contraceptive implants (6%). Male condoms were used by some couples (about 4%). While some couples opted for sterilization, the rates were rather low (2% for women and 0% for men). There were especially low rates of usage for IUDs (1%) and practically no users of the vaginal barrier method (0%). Traditional methods were also used at a very low rate, such as the rhythm method (less than 1%) and withdrawal (less than 1%).<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref> | Generally speaking, Zambia has a high fertility rate (nearly 6 children per woman), making it the country with the eighth highest fertility rate in the world.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/za.html CIA World Factbook7]</ref> According to a 2015 United Nations report, it was found that about 52% of Zambian women (who were of reproductive age and married/in unions) used any form of contraception, including traditional methods. This rate was notably higher than the Eastern African regional average for contraceptive use among women in 2015 (40%). The most common contraceptive methods for Zambian women were found to be contraceptive injectables (20%), birth control pills (12%), and contraceptive implants (6%). Male condoms were used by some couples (about 4%). While some couples opted for sterilization, the rates were rather low (2% for women and 0% for men). There were especially low rates of usage for IUDs (1%) and practically no users of the vaginal barrier method (0%). Traditional methods were also used at a very low rate, such as the rhythm method (less than 1%) and withdrawal (less than 1%).<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref> | ||
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Generally speaking, Zambian women experience vastly different lives, depending on their economic and social status, whether they live in rural or urban areas, and the agency that they are granted in their families and communities. Women who are more wealthy, educated, urbanized, and independent tend to have greater access to family planning options, particularly if they live in bigger cities like Lusaka or Kitwe, and may be able afford higher quality care at private clinics and hospitals. However, this is not the case for most women in Zambia, where 64% of people live in poverty (and, in rural areas, 80% of people live in poverty).<ref>[https://www.unicef.org/zambia/children_5157.html UNICEF Zambia - Poverty]</ref> The lack of educational, economic, and social opportunities hit women particularly hard. In 2015, it was estimated that women had a 56% literacy rate (compared to 70.9% literacy rate for men).<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/za.html CIA World Factbook 2017]</ref> Meanwhile, patriarchal social structures and norms grant some women limited agency over their property, land, sex lives, and contraceptive decisions.<ref>[https://www.genderindex.org/country/zambia/ Gender Index - Zambia]</ref> <ref>[https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/family-planning-the-grim-reality-in-rural-areas/ Family planning: The grim reality in rural areas]</ref> | Generally speaking, Zambian women experience vastly different lives, depending on their economic and social status, whether they live in rural or urban areas, and the agency that they are granted in their families and communities. Women who are more wealthy, educated, urbanized, and independent tend to have greater access to family planning options, particularly if they live in bigger cities like Lusaka or Kitwe, and may be able afford higher quality care at private clinics and hospitals. However, this is not the case for most women in Zambia, where 64% of people live in poverty (and, in rural areas, 80% of people live in poverty).<ref>[https://www.unicef.org/zambia/children_5157.html UNICEF Zambia - Poverty]</ref> The lack of educational, economic, and social opportunities hit women particularly hard. In 2015, it was estimated that women had a 56% literacy rate (compared to 70.9% literacy rate for men).<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/za.html CIA World Factbook 2017]</ref> Meanwhile, patriarchal social structures and norms grant some women limited agency over their property, land, sex lives, and contraceptive decisions.<ref>[https://www.genderindex.org/country/zambia/ Gender Index - Zambia]</ref> <ref>[https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/family-planning-the-grim-reality-in-rural-areas/ Family planning: The grim reality in rural areas]</ref> | ||
While Zambia has a large urban population (43.5% of total population in 2018), there are still many women who live in remote and rural areas. For these women, it is particularly difficult to access family planning services. They may need to travel long distances, often by foot, to access family planning services from Community Based Distributors (CBDs). The CBDs typically have condoms available, but as of 2016, they were trained or authorized to offer longer-lasting contraceptive methods, such as IUDs or implants.<ref>[https://www.ippf.org/blogs/overcoming-family-planning-challenges-zambia Overcoming family planning challenges in Zambia]</ref> Rural women typically tend to marry young and give birth early, as children are seen as a sign of prestige.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/za.html CIA World Factbook7]</ref> It can a very | While Zambia has a large urban population (43.5% of total population in 2018), there are still many women who live in remote and rural areas. For these women, it is particularly difficult to access family planning services. They may need to travel long distances, often by foot, to access family planning services from Community Based Distributors (CBDs). The CBDs typically have condoms available, but as of 2016, they were trained or authorized to offer longer-lasting contraceptive methods, such as IUDs or implants.<ref>[https://www.ippf.org/blogs/overcoming-family-planning-challenges-zambia Overcoming family planning challenges in Zambia]</ref> Rural women typically tend to marry young and give birth early, as children are seen as a sign of prestige.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/za.html CIA World Factbook7]</ref> It can a very | ||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||