William "Bill" Ryerson has spent his career empowering individuals to make choices for themselves. Through the Population Media Center (PMC), Bill Ryerson has created a platform to affect positive social behaviors in communities worldwide and empower women to make reproductive choices for themselves.
Global trends reveal that women are more likely to use contraceptives if gender equity is a part of the country’s cultural norms. Having access to contraceptives is important because, in some cases, it impacts the incidence of maternal fatalities. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, an estimated 295,000 fatalities result from complications in childbirth, and most of these cases occur in developing countries each year. Furthermore, women are less likely to die in childbirth or have unwanted pregnancies if they have access to family planning and reproductive services.
However, data published in The Lancet Global Health revealed that women have access to contraceptives in countries where gender equity exists. The study looked at 74 countries around the globe and found that for every 0.1 percent increase in the gender development index, 6.7 percent of sexually active women did not want to have children. Of this 6.7 percent, 13.5 percent of these women used contraceptives.
They also found a connection between education and the demand for contraceptives. For each year of schooling that the girl had, there was a 2.3 percent in demand for contraceptives and a 4.7 percent increase in modern contraceptives. Of the countries studied, 42 showed an increased demand for contraceptives with 37 countries showing an increase in the use of modern methods of conception.
This study was important because it highlighted the connection between contraceptive use and social contexts. Access to contraception allows women to choose the degree to which they engage in sexual activity, and it also can impact power balances in relationships.
