A recent study distributed by the National Bureau of Economic Research has found that providing free condoms to reduce unwanted pregnancies may not be cost-effective. The study confirms similar findings from a previous study conducted in 2016, which revealed that providing teenagers in U.S. high schools with access to free condoms actually increased the pregnancy rate by 10%. This suggests that simply giving out condoms without proper education on how to use them effectively may not lead to the desired outcome.
In a current 3-year long study conducted in Burkina Faso, where 14,545 households were given free access to condoms, the results showed no change in birth rates during the period. While the free condom program did not increase the pregnancy rate, it also did not reduce it, indicating that it did not have a significant impact. The study also found that financial constraints may have been a barrier to using condoms, as almost 40% of women surveyed had an unmet need for contraception and 41% reported they couldn’t afford it.
The researchers acknowledged that while free condoms may not be effective in reducing pregnancies, access to modern contraception is still important for reproductive freedom. For some women, access to contraception allows them to reduce their fertility to their desired level or to manage the timing of fertility more easily. However, the lack of success in reducing pregnancies highlights the need for public health officials to focus on specific goals when spending tax dollars. While reducing sexually transmitted diseases is important, the focus should also be on reproductive freedom.
The report also emphasized that efforts to improve access to modern contraception still hold value, even if they may not lead to a significant decrease in pregnancy rates. The researchers suggested that family planning interventions and policies to promote economic development may be more effective in driving fertility decline in Sub-Saharan Africa. From an economic standpoint, it may be more cost-effective to allocate resources towards initiatives that will achieve the desired goal, rather than providing free condoms with the hope of reducing pregnancies.
Overall, the research findings suggest that providing free condoms may not be the most effective method for reducing unwanted pregnancies. While access to contraception is important for reproductive freedom, efforts to improve access should be accompanied by proper education on usage and focus on specific goals. Public health officials should consider alternative strategies, such as family planning interventions and economic development policies, that may have a greater impact on reducing fertility rates in Sub-Saharan Africa.
