AMMAN, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 15 percent of Arab women aged between 15 and 49 have unmet family planning needs, according to a statement released Monday by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

It is estimated that 13.6 million women, out of a total of 91 million in the 15- to 49-year-old reproductive age range in the Arab region, desire to avoid or delay pregnancy but are not utilizing contraceptives, according to the statement.

The statement emphasized that the elimination of unmet needs by 2030 is one of the three transformative goals set by the UNFPA.

The statement was released after a three-day regional consultation on family planning was concluded in Amman. The meeting gathered experts from the UNFPA, along with partners from 15 countries.

The statement highlighted the unique challenges faced by the Arab region, including social stigmatization related to family planning, inequitable access to healthcare and social services, weak supply chain management systems, healthcare workforce shortages, and funding gaps.

These obstacles prevent women of reproductive age from accessing the desired health and social services, the statement read.

To address these issues, the statement emphasized the need for increased efforts from the United Nations, government partners, and civil society to fulfill women's family planning needs in the region. ■

Source: Xinhua