A new study published in BMC Public Health has cast a spotlight on Ghana’s journey in expanding access to modern family planning methods, drawing attention to both impressive achievements and lingering disparities over the past decade. The research, titled “Demand for family planning satisfied by modern methods in Ghana: trends and inequalities (2013–2022),” provides updated insights into how Ghana is addressing reproductive health—a topic with growing resonance for policymakers and public health experts across the developing world, including Thailand (BMC Public Health).
The study documents an overall positive trend: more Ghanaian women are now able to access and use modern contraceptive methods to satisfy their family planning needs compared to ten years ago. Yet, the research also reveals stark inequalities, with significant gaps persisting between rural and urban communities, and among women of varying educational and socioeconomic backgrounds. For Thailand, which has long served as a regional model for its own family planning initiatives, Ghana’s experience offers valuable lessons on both progress and persistent pitfalls in reproductive health programming.
According to the study, the proportion of Ghanaian women with demand for family planning satisfied by modern methods has steadily increased between 2013 and 2022. This reflects ongoing government and partner efforts to boost reproductive health services, expand the range of available modern contraceptives, and enhance public awareness. The findings are particularly significant as international development goals—such as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being)—emphasize universal access to sexual and reproductive health services.
However, the researchers stress that these advances mask deep-seated inequalities. Rural women and those with less formal education remain much less likely to have their family planning needs met through modern methods. Factors influencing these disparities include geographic access difficulties, cultural attitudes, variable service quality, and limited health literacy. A senior researcher involved in the study stated, “While progress in overall coverage is commendable, we must recognize that sustainable improvements require closing the persistent gaps affecting the most vulnerable populations.” (BMC Public Health)
For Thai health policymakers and reproductive health advocates, Ghana’s story serves as both affirmation and caution. Thailand’s own family planning programme—globally recognized since the 1970s—drove dramatic improvements in reproductive health and played a crucial role in reducing poverty and maternal mortality. Still, some population groups remain underserved, especially among ethnic minorities, migrants, and in certain rural provinces. This parallel underscores the importance of not becoming complacent in pursuit of universal coverage.
Culturally, reproductive autonomy remains a sensitive issue in many Asian societies, including Thailand. While national campaigns have helped normalize birth spacing and modern contraceptives among most Thai families, experts warn that shifting demographic trends—such as delayed marriage, urbanization, and declining fertility—require adaptive strategies. In comparing Ghana’s focus on addressing disparities, Thai reproductive health experts can renew their commitment to equity by targeting outreach and supportive policies to marginal groups.
Looking ahead, Ghana’s experience offers actionable insights for Thailand and similar countries: strengthening logistics and supply chains, investing in comprehensive sex education, mobilizing community health workers, and harnessing digital tools for outreach all prove vital in closing access gaps. As one head of Thailand’s provincial public health office observed in a recent symposium, “A truly modern family planning system is one where every woman, regardless of who she is or where she lives, can control her reproductive future without barriers.”
For Thai readers and families, the Ghanaian experience underlines the importance of periodic review and reform in public health programmes—ensuring no one is left behind. Individuals are encouraged to seek information on modern contraceptive options from local health centres, involve both partners in reproductive decisions, and advocate for high-quality, equitable health services within their communities. Policymakers, meanwhile, should continue monitoring marginalized populations and be proactive in closing service gaps—an effort as urgent in Thailand as it is in Ghana.
Source: BMC Public Health