1. Access to Contraceptives in Mali

2. Thesis Statement
I argue that access to contraception in Mali is hindered due to geography, unmet demand, and gender inequality; resulting in its lack of use.
This map depicts the global use of birth control. Mali (West Africa, shown in black) has one of the lowest global percentages.

3. Background In Mali: As a result:
74.6% of women know about contraception
8.2% of women use contraception
31.2% of women have an unmet need for contraception
Restrictive laws: abortion cannot be used for family planning
As a result:
Many children are unintended
Families cannot provide for their children
Maternal mortality rate: 1 in 28

4. Millennium Development Goals
Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health
Achieve universal access to reproductive health by 2015
However: demand is increasing faster than supply

5. Analysis: Geography
Wealthy women are 4.5 times more likely to use contraception
90 percent of residents live in poor, rural areas
Doctor to resident ratio: 1 to 21,000
Versus in Europe: 1 to 300
Favored methods require ongoing dosage
65.9% use pills and injectables
Poorer residents (90 percent of the population) live in the more rural, sub-Saharan area of Mali.

6. Analysis: Unmet Demand
1/3 women demand it
1/12 women get it
The government is unable to fund healthcare providers
Few women know where to find contraceptives:
50% of urban women
10% of rural women

7. Comparative Facts

8. Analysis: Gender Inequality
Gender equality index: 143/146
Husbands disapprove of contraception:
God’s will
Farming
Female promiscuity
Western institution
Polygamy:
More children = higher status
Threaten to take more wives
Disincentivized from use

9. Conclusion Recommendations: Result:
Establish more healthcare clinics in rural areas
Encourage all clinics to offer a variety of low-cost contraception
Educate men on the benefits of smaller family sizes
Result:
Lower maternal mortality
Child spacing goals
IUDs are low-cost, longer-term solutions.

10. “That's universal — we all want to bring every good thing to our children. But what's not universal is our ability to provide every good thing.”
-Melinda Gates

11. Bibliography Adams, Alayne M., Dominique Simon, and Sangeetha Madhavn.
"Women's Social Support Networks and Contraceptive Use in
Mali." The Power of Women's Informal Networks. Lanham,
Maryland: Lexington Books, Web. 9 Nov
OECD. "Mali." Social Institutions & Gender Index. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Web. 10 Nov 2014.
UNICEF. "Mali." Statistics. The United Nations Children's Fund, 17 Dec Web. 11 Nov 2014.
United Nations. "Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health." United Nations
Millennium Development Goals. United Nations. Web. 10 Nov 2014.
USAID. "The Cost of Family Planning in Mali.“ Health Policy Initiative, Task
Order I. United States Agency for International Development, February
2010. Web. 10 Nov 2014.