Policymakers are increasingly concerned about the ability of donors and government to keep pace with demand for contraception in developing countries. While the commercial sector could potentially contribute more — particularly for methods such as oral contraceptives and condoms — the actual
commercial share varies widely, from under 25 percent of pill users in Honduras and the Philippines to over 90 percent in Brazil and Egypt. Understanding what circumstances the private sector share could be raised to help close the anticipated “contraceptive security gap” is an important policy question. This paper reviews available evidence to identify factors that may promote or hinder greater commercial sector participation in supplying contraceptives.
