Reducing Poverty Through Birth Control

The State of Delaware has introduced the opportunity for women who are trying to escape poverty long term birth control devices. It has been found these devices prevent unplanned pregnancies better than other birth control techniques.

Eliminating or even reducing poverty is difficult. We all know it is complex involving mental illness, education, culture and opportunity. A big part of poverty comes from women who have unplanned children. Losing work hours and more mouths to feed are obvious barriers to being economically successful.

Delaware has learned listening to poor women explain their goals is the place to start their path out of poverty. If a woman tells an interviewer she does not want to become pregnant in the coming year she is giving an implanted device that is effective for one year. Other choices are offered other birth control options.

There may be other ways to reduce poverty, but reducing unplanned pregnancies is the cheapest. Taking people out of poverty benefits all of society.

In other countries, long term birth control devices are more popular than they are in the U.S. The State of Delaware is ahead of the U.S. in use of these devices.

As expected, various parts of Christianity are opposed to public sector support of birth control. Part of the opposition from religion stems from the desire to control women and keep them dependent of men. Keeping women dependent on men ensures a large segment of these women will remain in poverty.

While there are fewer unplanned pregnancies than in the past, they still represent about half of all pregnancies. Reducing them further is a step in the right direction.