The United Nations Population Fund has reported that between 2015 to 2019 unintended pregnancies in The Gambia stood at 54 per 1000 women and only 23% of women can make decisions on their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

“In The Gambia today, the unmet need for family planning is currently at 24% while the contraceptive prevalence rate for modern methods of contraceptives is estimated at 19% and the total demand for family planning among women is about 43%.

“This shows that a considerable part of the population needs modern contraceptive commodities but do not have access. 

“This means that the said population have limited autonomy, if any, over their bodies, fertility, and ability to make informed choices, thus contributing to the staggering high rates of unintended pregnancies globally,” the report said.

“Between 2015 to 2019, unintended pregnancies in The Gambia stood at 54 per 1000 women and only 23% of women can make decisions on their sexual and reproductive health and rights. 

“These figures reflect the pressure societies place on women and girls to become mothers. An unintended pregnancy is not necessarily a personal failure and may be due to the lack of autonomy society allows or the value placed on women’s lives.”

According to the report, “this should serve as a wakeup call to all of us as it highlights how easily the most fundamental rights of women and girls are often pushed to the backburner.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba