HERA: Only 14% of young women in North Macedonia use modern contraception
HERA says financial and systemic barriers keep modern contraceptives out of reach for many; UNICEF MICS 2018–2019 provides the data.
The Association for Health Education and Research HERA warns that use of modern contraceptives in North Macedonia remains low and that financial barriers prevent many from exercising reproductive choice, marking World Contraception Day under the motto "Choice without barriers".
Official survey figures
Citing the most recent national figures from the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2018–2019, HERA noted that 43,9% of couples aged 15 to 49 who are married or in a union rely on withdrawal as their primary method of preventing pregnancy, while only 14% use a modern contraceptive method.
The association highlighted particularly low uptake among younger women: about 14% of women aged 20 to 24 use a modern contraceptive method, while 38,6% in that age group rely on withdrawal. Condoms are reported as used by 11% of young women aged 20–24.
HERA also pointed out that, despite changes to the essential medicines list, some relevant products are not provided free of charge: "Birth control pills and nicotine patches placed on the new essential medicines list are not free," the association said.
The organisation calls for a health system that guarantees affordable contraception, quality counselling and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services so that the right to choose is meaningful in practice.
Photo: K. Popov)
