Millennium Development Goals and Reproductive Health: UNFPA

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund

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MDGs and Reproductive Health

“The Millennium Development Goals, particularly the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, cannot be achieved if questions of population and reproductive health are not squarely addressed. And this means stronger efforts to promote women's rights and greater investment in education and health, including reproductive health and family planning.”

—United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan

The following chart shows how the work of UNFPA in reproductive health contributes to each of the eight Millennium Development Goals. The tan boxes outline these contributions, while the blue boxes show what happens in when people have limited access to reproductive health care.

MDG 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
	Lower fertility, slower population growth, favourable composition, increased economic growth, reduction in poverty
	Smaller families so higher female labor force participation
	Income distribution less skewed so less extreme poverty and more scope for growth
	Higher population growth, insecure livelihoods, higher risk of food insecurity
	Teenage births and short birth intervals, some unplanned, larger than desired families
	Intergenerational poverty cycle more likely
MDG 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education
	Means fewer children, more educational resources per child, better school performance
	Reduction in child labour
	Enlarges opportunities throughout adolescence and adulthood
	Low retention rates, especially for girls
	Girls burdened with sibling care and thus less scope of success at school
	Higher pupil-teacher ratios and lower expenditures per child
MDG 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
	Later marriage and increased life opportunities
	Male participation in reproductive health results in better understanding among spouses so less domestic violence
	Increases bargaining power of women in sexual behaviour and childbearing decisions
	Harmful practices and endemic violence
	Low status and power of girls and women
	Large families more hierarchical with respect to age and gender
MDG 4: Reduce Child Mortality
	Lower risk of infant and child morbidity and mortality
	Improved knowledge about hygiene, baby-feeding and childrearing practices
	Better parenting skills
	Children in large families, more likely to be deprived in terms of nutrition and affection
	Lack of exposure to baby-friendly health initiative and baby-care practices
	Higher malnutrition, stunting and lower birthweight
MDG 5: Improve Maternal Health
	Reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality
	Availability of emergency obstetric care and antenatal care
	Fewer and well-spaced births
	Lack of contraceptive access and choice
	Births delivered by unskilled persons
	Consequences of complications of pregnancies are more serious
MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases
	Better information on contraction and prevention of HIV/AIDS and other STDs
	Increased negotiating skills for safe sex reduces risk
	Wider and deeper public knowledge about sexual health
	Lack of antenatal care and medicines increases risk of mother to child infection
	Lack of STI examinations and care leads to increased possibility of HIV/AIDS infection
	Early sexual debut and lack of contraceptives increase risk of HIV/AIDS
MDG 7: Ensure Environmental Stability
	Improved sustainable use of space and land
	Less pressure of existing infrastructure and basic social services
	Enhanced role of women as resource managers
	Migration to crowded urban slums deteriorates local environmental resource base
	Pressures on food and water security
	Expansion into forested areas, marginal lands and fragile eco-systems
MDG 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development
	North-South Transfers are Essential for Progressing Towards the MDGs Developing open trading and financial systems Addressing special needs of LDCs, Landlocked and Small Island Developing Countries Managing debt relief and increasing ODA Creating productive youth employment Providing affordable medicine Spreading benefits of new technologies