GUATEMALA
Inter Press Service News Agency (IPS)
In 2005, a family planning law was passed in Guatemala–and went into effect on Oct. 30th, 2009.
Mirna Montenegro, with the Observatory on Reproductive Health, highlighted for IPS the two key aspects of the new family planning law: a sex education curriculum for primary schools and the creation of a national commission on contraceptives. She went on to explain that it has been clearly demonstrated that as a result of family planning methods, “women have greater access to sources of income, and maternal and infant mortality are reduced.” José Roberto Luna, with Incide Joven, told IPS that the family planning law “is aimed at guaranteeing equal, universal access to family planning methods, because it has been demonstrated that there is unmet demand for birth control services.” While the passing of the law is seen by many as a victory in the fight against the country’s high maternal and infant mortality rates, the law still faces much opposition–mainly from the Catholic Church. It is unclear what impact this new law will have on access to services and ultimately on the reduction of mortality rates. See the full story here.
Maternal Mortality Daily 