World Contraception Day is an annual global campaign observed on September 26th that aims to raise awareness about contraception, safe sex, and reproductive health. It promotes the vision where every pregnancy is wanted and empowers individuals to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.
Quick Facts
- When is it?: September 26th every year
- Tagged as: Global health awareness campaign
- What’s the hashtag?: #WorldContraceptionDay
- When was it founded?: 2007
- Who founded it?: Ten international family planning organizations
History of World Contraception Day
World Contraception Day was first observed on September 26, 2007, when ten international family planning organizations came together to promote awareness about contraception and safe sex. The campaign was established with the goal of enabling young people to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health, ensuring that every pregnancy is wanted. Today, the initiative is supported by approximately 15 agencies, including NGOs, governments, scientific and medical societies, all working together to spread accurate information about sexual and reproductive health.
Timeline
- 2007: First World Contraception Day observed on September 26
- 2020: Contraceptive use among women of reproductive age reached 76.8%
- 2023: Theme focused on “The Power of Options”
- 2024: Theme is “A choice for all. Freedom to plan, power to choose”
Dates by Next Year (2025 to 2030)
| Year | Month and Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 26 | Friday |
| 2026 | September 26 | Saturday |
| 2027 | September 26 | Sunday |
| 2028 | September 26 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | September 26 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | September 26 | Thursday |
Observed Worldwide
World Contraception Day is observed globally with various events, educational campaigns, and initiatives organized by health organizations, NGOs, government agencies, and medical communities. These activities aim to spread awareness about different contraceptive methods, promote sexual education, and advocate for universal access to contraception. The day serves as a platform to discuss reproductive rights, family planning, and the importance of making informed choices about sexual health.
Fun Facts About Contraception
Contraception has a much longer history than many people realize. Ancient Egyptians were using contraceptive methods as far back as 3000 BC, with men inventing the first condom. By 1850 BC, women were using pessaries containing unusual ingredients like crocodile dung, honey, and sodium carbonate to prevent pregnancy. The modern era of contraception began in the 1960s when the FDA approved the first birth control pill, though early versions had significant side effects. Today, tubal ligation is the most common contraceptive method worldwide, used by approximately 219 million women.
Quiz
- When is World Contraception Day celebrated?
- In what year was World Contraception Day first observed?
- What is the theme for World Contraception Day 2024?
- How many women worldwide have an unmet need for modern contraception?
(Answers: 1. September 26th, 2. 2007, 3. “A choice for all. Freedom to plan, power to choose”, 4. Nearly 257 million)
FAQs
What is the purpose of World Contraception Day?
World Contraception Day aims to raise awareness about contraception options, promote safe sex practices, and empower individuals to make informed choices about their reproductive health.
Who supports World Contraception Day?
The day is supported by approximately 15 international organizations, including NGOs, governmental organizations, and scientific and medical societies like the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health, the Asian Pacific Council on Contraception, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Why is contraception important?
Contraception helps with family planning, allows individuals to decide when and if they want to have children, prevents unwanted pregnancies, reduces maternal mortality, and can help control population growth while empowering individuals to make choices about their bodies and futures.
Importance of World Contraception Day
World Contraception Day plays a crucial role in promoting awareness about various contraceptive options available to individuals. It emphasizes that access to contraception is a human right that furthers the health and well-being of women, girls, their families, and societies. The day highlights how contraception empowers individuals to take charge of their bodies and futures, helping reduce adolescent births, prevent maternal deaths, and further gender equality.
Research suggests that meeting the unmet need for contraception could avert more than half of maternal deaths by reducing higher-risk pregnancies, increasing the spacing between births, and decreasing the likelihood of unsafe abortions. Despite progress, there’s a growing gap in funding for contraceptives globally that could reach at least $1.5 billion in low-income and middle-income countries by 2030, making awareness campaigns like World Contraception Day more important than ever.
Related
- International Women’s Day
- World Sexual Health Day
- International Day of Action for Women’s Health
- World Population Day
- International Youth Day