World Contraception Day – September 26

Why in News ?

• World Contraception Day is celebrated every year on September 26. It is a global awareness campaign.
• The theme of World Contraception Day for the year 2025 is: “A choice for all – agency, intention, access.”

World Contraception Day

• World Contraception Day is an international campaign that focuses on the importance of contraception and reproductive health.
• The purpose of this event is to educate people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds about the various contraceptive methods available, their benefits, and how to obtain them.
• Educational initiatives, public campaigns, and community events are organized on this day to encourage informed decision-making about sexual and reproductive health.

History of the Event

• World Contraception Day was launched in 2007 as a global campaign aimed at raising awareness about contraception and empowering young people to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
• This initiative is supported by a coalition of international organizations, including governments, non-governmental organizations, and health professionals, working together to reduce unintended pregnancies and increase access to contraceptive methods worldwide.
• Its slogan is “A world where every pregnancy is wanted,” meaning a world where every child is born after careful planning.

Objectives and Significance:

Celebrating this day has several important objectives, broadly related to sexual and reproductive health:

• Raising awareness: To provide accurate and precise information about available contraceptive options (such as condoms, birth control pills, IUDs, implants, injections, etc.) so that people can choose the right method according to their lifestyle and needs.
• Preventing unwanted pregnancy: To reduce the rate of unintended pregnancies by promoting the use of effective contraceptive methods.
• Promoting family planning: To give individuals and couples the freedom to decide when, how many, and at what intervals they want to have children.
• Improving health: Contraception improves the health of women and newborns. It helps ensure safe motherhood and reduce maternal and infant mortality.
• STI/HIV prevention: Some contraceptive methods (such as condoms) also play an important role in preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV.
• Gender equality and women's empowerment: Access to contraception gives women control over their reproductive health, allowing them to better utilize opportunities for education, career, and economic independence.
• Population control: In many countries, this day is also considered important in strengthening population stabilization efforts.
• Dispelling misconceptions: Dispelling misconceptions and fears about contraception and normalizing its use.