Achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Kenya: The Contribution of Family Planning

Thomas J. Goliber, Futures Group International
Rachel Sanders, Futures Group International

For many countries, meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be a challenge, and they will need to employ every tool at their disposal, including family planning (FP). This analysis estimated costs for five of the eight MDGs, including: (1) primary education, (2) child mortality, (3) maternal health, (4) environmental sustainability, and (5) infectious disease. Costs were calculated for two scenarios: when unmet need for FP remains constant, and when unmet need for FP is gradually met. Meeting unmet need for FP would result in fewer unintended pregnancies, reducing the population needing the services required to meet the MDGs and consequently, reducing costs for meeting the MDGs. Following analysis of 30 countries worldwide, we found savings ratios between $2 and $20. FP also helps to reduce the number of high-risk pregnancies, thereby reducing the high levels of mortality associated with risky pregnancies. Our presentation will focus on the Kenya analysis.