215
At the central level, the Government strengthens media awareness particularly in the
event of outbreaks of new and dreadful diseases threatening, as avian influenza and
Ebola haemorrhagic fever).
216
Youth (from 10 to 24) represents 33% of the population. Among teenagers under 15,
13% are sexually active. Among youth aged from 15 to 19, 15% have a child and
21% have an unwanted pregnancy. This results from a high number of unsafe
abortions (which contributes to a high maternal mortality) and girls dropping out of
school 12.
217 According to MICS 2014, modern family planning methods represent 12.4%; and
traditional methods represent 4.8%. The percentage of the population which does not
use contraceptive method is 82%, percentage of the population who use any
contraceptive method is 17.2%.
218
According to the 2012 DHS, 53% of the current family planning users have been
informed by a health care or family planning officer about the side effects or the
issues related to this method.
219
The following key documents encompass strong options in favour of family planning
in Benin :
220
The law N° 2003-04 of March 3, 2003, relating to reproductive health which enables
women to have access to family planning:
– Universal right to reproductive health
– Right to information and education on family planning;
– Right to access to health care and health services for family planning;
– Right to non-discrimination in the provision of services
– Government regulation on the quality of contraceptive products and
circumstances of voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion)
221
--The National Health Development Plan 2009-2018 (PNDS) which has also set as
priority the promotion of family planning in an attempt to "Reduce maternal and
neonatal mortality" (Sub-program against maternal and neonatal mortality), with the
objective to bring the Contraceptive Prevalence Rate to 15% in 2016.
222
The National Strategy for Securing the Products of Reproductive Health 2006-2015;
- The Multi-sectoral National Strategy of Young People Sexual Health and Reproduction
Document (2010-2020).
223 Theoretically, Family planning services are integrated in all health facilities having a
maternity hospital but only 46% and 68% of health facilities in Benin offer primary
family planning services (pills/injectable/preservatives). According to the SARA
survey of 2013, long-term methods are offered respectively in 40% of health facilities
for the intrauterine contraceptive device (DIU) and 39% for implants.