Family Planning Knowledge & Access

Why is the lack of knowledge of family planning methods a health issue for women workers?

Even in countries where it is considered culturally unacceptable, many female factory workers engage willingly or unwillingly in premarital sexual activities that put them at risk of unwanted pregnancy. Unsafe abortion is a common recourse in such cases. In many countries, premarital sex and unwanted pregnancy are a source of stress for female factory workers that can lead to angst and depression.

Married and unmarried female workers in Asia and the Middle East are often reluctant to ask questions and seek advice about reproductive health and family planning, especially in public settings. In some countries, access to contraception and family planning is an issue, such as in Pakistan. In other countries, like Bangladesh and Vietnam, access is plentiful but products are often used incorrectly, thus increasing the risk of unwanted pregnancy.

What is HERproject doing to address this risk?

For married women, open conversation about contraceptive use is uncommon and sometimes uncomfortable. Framing these conversations as “preparing for married life” is a tactic HERproject has used to reach both married and unmarried women and educate them about family planning methods and access.  This technique was so effective in Pakistan that workers began asking for contraceptives. The local government donated family planning products including condoms, oral contraceptive pills, injections and intrauterine devices to the factory.