Thirty years ago, maternal mortality rates were very
rough estimates.
Today, data and technology allow us
to more accurately measure women’s access to sexual and
reproductive healthcare, including reductions in maternal
mortality, uptake of contraception, and progress toward
gender equality. We can now measure success better than ever
before.
Many initiatives over the last thirty years
have contributed to these advancements. The United Nations
Secretary-General’s call for a “data revolution” to
equip countries with data systems to track and achieve the
Sustainable Development Goals has encouraged countries to
invest in better data collection, analysis, and measurement
tools. While the increasingly available data shines a
spotlight on progress, it also exposes the gaps that remain,
including in access to sexual and reproductive health and
rights.
Consider Amina, a 28-year-old woman living in
a remote village in Southeast Asia. Pregnant with her third
child, she faced a long journey to the nearest clinic. In
her village, there were no skilled birth attendants, and
emergency obstetric care was a distant hope. Unfortunately,
Amina’s story is not unique. I have met women with similar
stories across countries in Asia and in the Pacific, and I
have seen firsthand that these inequalities in access are
widening not only between countries but also within
countries.
Health systems are plagued by gender
inequality and biases based on displacement and ethnic
discrimination. Consequently, indigenous women like Amina
are less likely to receive antenatal care, more likely to
give birth as teenagers, and much more likely to die from
pregnancy-related causes.
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This raises the question:
Are we collecting the data we need to truly accelerate
progress? Who is still going uncounted and unaccounted
for?
Data is not just numbers; it’s the story of
people’s lives. It provides insights into the health and
well-being of individuals. Quality data collection and
analysis help us identify service gaps, understand access
barriers, and develop targeted interventions for those often
left behind, including women, girls, indigenous populations,
people with disabilities, the LGBTQIA+ community, and older
persons.
In a region that faces rapid population
growth in some areas, rapid ageing in others, as well as
widespread climate change, conflict, and crises, reliable
population data is more important than ever. Inclusive and
culturally relevant data, disaggregated by gender,
ethnicity, and other factors, is essential to ensuring
everyone – every individual – has access to universal
sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Data on
maternal deaths highlights areas where healthcare systems
are failing women. It can reveal shortages in skilled birth
attendants, lack of emergency obstetric care, or
socio-cultural barriers that prevent women from seeking
timely care.
Data on contraceptive use and unmet need
for family planning increases understanding on where and why
gaps exist, such as cultural stigma or lack of education
about contraception that can lead to high rates of
unintended pregnancies.
Data on violence against women
indicates the prevalence of this horrific act and how and
where it happens, and the harms that result. For example,
UNFPA’s kNOwVAWdata initiative supports ethically sourced
quality data to measure the prevalence of violence against
women, while protecting confidentiality to ensure no further
harm. Today, 32 out of 36 countries in the region have
conducted at least one survey, providing quality data to
inform how better we can serve those that need us
most.
By breaking down data by age, geography, and
socio-economic status, we can pinpoint barriers and address
them through community engagements, awareness campaigns,
improved supply chains, and policy changes to push forward
those left behind.
Governments, civil society, and
international organizations must collaborate to enhance data
collection, analysis, and use. This includes leveraging new
technologies, such as mobile health platforms and geospatial
mapping, to reach and document underserved populations. It
also means ensuring data drives decision-making at all
levels, from local health clinics to national policy
forums.
Data is the lifeblood of effective, equitable
healthcare systems. It shows where we are succeeding and
where we are falling short. It guides our actions and holds
us accountable. Yet, people’s lives cannot be summed up by
a single statistic or reduced to mere data points. Humanity
is a diverse tapestry of hopes and dreams, and it is by
ensuring every individual is accounted for that we can
fulfill our vision: a resilient and equitable future where
everyone counts.
Opinion-Editorial by Mr. Pio Smith,
UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the
Pacific
on the occasion of
World Population Day
2024
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