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In Kyrgyzstan, you should be able to purchase oral contraceptives (birth control pills) without a prescription at pharmacies.<ref>[Conversation with a Bishkek pharmacist, April 2018]</ref>
In Kyrgyzstan, you should be able to purchase oral contraceptives (birth control pills) without a prescription at pharmacies.<ref>[Conversation with a Bishkek pharmacist, April 2018]</ref>


In 2015, it was estimated that 42% of women (who are married/in unions and of reproductive age) in Kyrgyzstan use some form of contraception, and about 17% of women have unmet family planning needs. This is below the average rate of contraceptive use in Central Asia, which is 57%. The most common contraceptive methods were found to be IUDs (22%), male condoms (10%) and birth control pills (4%). There were low usage rates for traditional methods (2%), female sterilization (1%) and withdrawal (1%). Meanwhile, less than 1% of women used contraceptive injectables or the rhythm method, and there was no recorded usage of male sterilization, female barrier methods or contraceptive implants.<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref>
For women in Kyrgyzstan, contraceptive access depends on many factors, including location, income status, personal opinions and general autonomy outside of the expectations of family and community. In 2015, it was estimated that 42% of women (who are married/in unions and of reproductive age) in Kyrgyzstan use some form of contraception, and about 17% of women have unmet family planning needs. This is below the average rate of contraceptive use in Central Asia, which is 57%. The most common contraceptive methods were found to be IUDs (22%), male condoms (10%) and birth control pills (4%). There were low usage rates for traditional methods (2%), female sterilization (1%) and withdrawal (1%). Meanwhile, less than 1% of women used contraceptive injectables or the rhythm method, and there was no recorded usage of male sterilization, female barrier methods or contraceptive implants.<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref>


Generally speaking, Kyrgyzstan is a socially conservative country. The majority of Kyrgyz citizens are Sunni Muslim, and while they are not strongly religious on average, they can be considered very traditional. Frank discussion of sexuality is considered taboo,<ref>[https://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/rapport_kyrgyzstan_uk-2-web2.pdf Kyrgyzstan: Women and children from Kyrgyzstan affected by migration]</ref> and bride kidnappings (“ala kachuu”) are sadly common. In fact, it was estimated that up to 40% of ethnic Kyrgyz women were married after being kidnapped and nearly two-thirds of bride kidnappings are unplanned. While bride kidnapping has been technically illegal since 1994, it is still widely practiced.<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/grab-and-run-1634 GRAB AND RUN: KYRGYZSTAN'S BRIDE KIDNAPPINGS]</ref> <ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kyrgyzstan-bride-kidnapping_us_57d05dede4b03d2d4597eef5 Little Is Being Done To End Kyrgyzstan’s Bride Kidnapping Crisis]</ref>
Generally speaking, Kyrgyzstan is a socially conservative country. The majority of Kyrgyz citizens are Muslim (75%) followed by Russian Orthodox (20%). While Kyrgyz people (who make up about 71% of the population) are not extremely religious on average, they can be considered very traditional.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kg.html CIA World Factbook: Kyrgyzstan]</ref> Frank discussion of sexuality is considered taboo,<ref>[https://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/rapport_kyrgyzstan_uk-2-web2.pdf Kyrgyzstan: Women and children from Kyrgyzstan affected by migration]</ref> and bride kidnappings (“ala kachuu”) are sadly common. In fact, it was estimated that up to 40% of ethnic Kyrgyz women were married after being kidnapped and nearly two-thirds of bride kidnappings are unplanned. While bride kidnapping has been technically illegal since 1994, it is still widely practiced.<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/grab-and-run-1634 GRAB AND RUN: KYRGYZSTAN'S BRIDE KIDNAPPINGS]</ref> <ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kyrgyzstan-bride-kidnapping_us_57d05dede4b03d2d4597eef5 Little Is Being Done To End Kyrgyzstan’s Bride Kidnapping Crisis]</ref>


In 2015, Parliament passed a bill that established the legal basis to teach sexuality education in schools. While the bill was controversial and opposed by some people, it was also welcomed by others. In fact, it was found that 80% of parents in Kyrgyzstan wanted their children to receive sexuality education, and many stated that they did not know how to talk about sexuality with their children.<ref>[https://www.unfpa.org/news/sexuality-education-comes-kyrgyzstan Sexuality education comes to Kyrgyzstan]</ref>
In 2015, Parliament passed a bill that established the legal basis to teach sexuality education in schools. While the bill was controversial and opposed by some people, it was also welcomed by others. In fact, it was found that 80% of parents in Kyrgyzstan wanted their children to receive sexuality education, and many stated that they did not know how to talk about sexuality with their children.<ref>[https://www.unfpa.org/news/sexuality-education-comes-kyrgyzstan Sexuality education comes to Kyrgyzstan]</ref>

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