Market Trends of Africa Contraceptive Drugs and Devices Industry
The Oral Contraceptives Segment is Expected to Show Better Growth in the Forecast Years
Oral contraceptive pills are considered the easiest method of contraception in the industry. They prohibit implantation within the uterus if taken within 2-3 days of unsafe sexual contact. These are easily marketed across large regions by several companies and thus easily consumed by a large population.
According to WHO data updated in June 2021, around 214 million women of reproductive age in developing countries who want to avoid pregnancy are not using a modern contraceptive method. In Africa, 24.2% of women of reproductive age have an unmet need for modern contraception, as per the WHO estimates. Hence, the rising demand for contraceptives to avoid unintended pregnancies and rising government initiatives are expected to drive the market in the forecast period.
Moreover, as per the study published in January 2022 by Contraception and Reproductive Medicine, the awareness of emergency contraceptives among women of reproductive age in South America has increased. South Africa reported the level of emergency contraceptive (EC) awareness to be 57% compared to the previous year. Therefore, the rising awareness among the population about contraceptives is expected to increase the demand for contraceptive pills, which is expected to boost the market's growth over the forecast period.
South Africa is Expected to Show High Growth in the Forecast Years
South Africa has one of the highest numbers of HIV-infected adults and children in the world. The epidemic is generalized across the country's population and is primarily driven by sexual transmission.
As per the data updated in June 2021 by population.un.org, in 2021, nearly 51% of women aged 15-49 years in Southern Africa used contraceptives - either traditional or modern methods. The region registered the highest contraceptive prevalence rate in Africa. Thus, the increasing usage of contraceptives is expected to increase in South Africa which is further expected to boost the growth of the market over the forecast period in the country.
Moreover, as per the data updated in June 2022, by Statistics South Africa, as of 2021, approximately three percent of females aged 14 to 19 years in South Africa stated that they were going through different stages of pregnancy within the last 12 months. The prevalence of pregnancy increased with age. Moreover, as per the study published in December 2021 by the National Library of Medicine, the prevalence of unintended pregnancy was significantly higher among adolescent girls aged 15 19 years (76.3%) and young women aged 20 24 years (56.5%). Thus, the rising burden of unintended pregnancies among young age women and girls is expected to boost the demand for contraceptive drugs and devices which in turn is anticipated to boost the market growth over the forecast period in South Africa.
Thus, the above-mentioned factors, such as the increasing usage of contraceptives coupled with the rising number of unintended pregnancies, are expected to boost the growth of the market studied in the country.
