Contraception is defined as all the means to prevent pregnancy. It is therefore a public health issue. To make informed and responsible decisions about contraception, it is essential to inform and educate the entire population on this subject. Knowledge of contraception is an element that can reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and consequently the number of voluntary abortions.
Despite the law of 4 July 2011 which provided for the duty to access information and education on sexuality during schooling and the sexual health strategy put in place for the period 2017-2030, the rate of voluntary terminations of pregnancy in 2022 was the highest ever recorded at 234,300, representing a considerable cost of around 165 million euros for social security. There is obviously a lack of sex education, but that's only part of the problem.
Indeed, the right choice of contraceptive and the proper understanding of its use are necessary to reduce the gap between the theoretical and practical effectiveness of contraception and thus decrease the number of unwanted pregnancies. According to a 2017 study, 54% of women said they were insufficiently informed about the contraceptive they use. Given the lack of studies on men's knowledge about contraception, it would be necessary to evaluate their achievements in order to adapt sexual education to all and thus reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancies in couples.
Midwives are particularly concerned because they have the power to prescribe contraception and play a full role in the sexual education of couples.