Adding It Up: The Costs and Benefits of Investing in Sexual and Reproductive Health in 2014

This report, produced by Guttmacher Institute, provides estimates for 2014 of the needs for and costs and benefits of sexual and reproductive health interventions.  The report highlights that most deaths in mothers and babies are preventable and the poorest people face the greatest health challenges. This report examines three key areas: contraceptive services, maternal and newborn services, and HIV and other sexually transmission infections (STI) services. Contraceptive services

• An estimated 225 million women want to avoid pregnancy but are not using effective modern contraceptive method
• Unmet need for modern contraception is generally higher among the poorest women, those with less education, and those living in rural areas
• The highest proportion of women in need of modern contraception is in sub-Saharan Africa (58%)
• 70,000 maternal deaths and 500,000 newborn deaths could be prevented if unmet need for modern contraception were fulfilled 

Essential health services for pregnant women and newborns

• Access to emergency medical care at delivery is vital for saving lives
• An estimated 290,000 women worldwide die each year of preventable causes of pregnancy
• 43 million women do not deliver their babies in a health facility
• 33 million newborns need but do not receive care for health complications
• Achieving the recommended level of care for maternal and newborn health requires more than a doubling of current investment 

HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections

• More than one-third of pregnant women living with HIV do not receive antiretroviral medication
• HIV transmission to newborns could be drastically reduced by providing ART to all pregnant women living with HIV
• Treating STIs is relatively inexpensive and could provide substantial benefits
• 110,000 stillbirths and 50,000 newborn deaths could be prevented by fully meeting women’s needs for syphilis testing and treatment during pregnancy 

Integrated package of care

• Investing in sexual and reproductive health care as an integrated package can be more effective and more cost-effective than investing in stand-along services
• Fulfilling unmet need for modern contraception is a cost-effective way to improve health: Spending one dollar on contraceptive services reduces the cost of pregnancy-related care, including care for HIV positive women, by $1.47
• Combined investment could reduce maternal deaths by 67%, compared to only a 56% decline if investing in maternal health care alone 

ConclusionThis report highlights that although gains have been made in the health of women and newborns worldwide, much work remains to be done.  The report advocates that integrated investments in sexual and reproductive health are critical for saving lives and improving health of women and children.  In addition to health improvements, the report highlights that investing in sexual and reproductive health services extends beyond the health sector.  Benefits include improvements in women’s education and earnings, increases in children’s schooling, increases in GDP growth, reductions in poverty, and progression towards achieving development goals. To read the full report, click here. To view an infographic about why to invest in sexual and reproductive health in the developing world, click here.         Singh, S., Darroch, J. E., & Ashford, L. S. (2014). Adding It Up: The Costs and Benefits of Investing in Sexual and Reproductive Health 2014. New York: Guttmacher Institute.