In Austria, half of women still bear the costs of contraception alone, which also influences their choice of protection. Without comprehensive free access to contraception and advice, Austria is not exactly at the forefront of an EU comparison. A pilot project must now bring about a turnaround.
The fact that contraception is a problem for two people is not exactly new: However, only about 27 percent of Austrians share the cost of condoms, pills, etc. Half of women pay for them alone, according to the Ministry of Health’s contraceptive report from 2024 . Specifically, approximately 1.2 million women of childbearing age between 14 and 45 currently use contraception.
Depending on the contraceptive, the costs are between approximately 30 and 230 euros per year. According to the report, condoms, pills, mini-pills and IUDs are the most commonly used protection. Overall, only 66.3 percent of women surveyed use contraception and 33 percent do not use it at all.
That would be much better: if all types of contraceptives were made available free of charge in Austria, 36.6 percent would use contraception at all, differently, more regularly or more often.
Fewer cancellations
And that would certainly make sense: such accessible access to protection, in combination with sex education, leads, as various studies show, to a significant reduction in the number of abortions.
In particular, long-term contraception, such as the pill or the IUD, is expensive and “simply not affordable” for many women, says study author Sylvia Gaiswinkler of Gesundheit Österreich GmbH.
Free protection only in isolated cases
But the free provision of contraceptives in this country only occurs through individual initiatives: for example, the Aidshilfe House in Vienna offers up to three free condoms per day or the IUD at a reduced price through the Austrian Family Planning Association (ÖGF) for women at risk to walk. of poverty.
In general, contraception is still a private matter for us. The UN Women’s Rights Committee (CEDAW) recommended in 2019 that access to abortions and contraceptives should be guaranteed and covered by health insurance. This is only possible in exceptional cases, such as endometriosis.
There is also a lack of advice
As for access to information on the subject of protection, in Austria contraceptive advice is also only covered by health insurance for young people up to the age of 18. While some places offer free advice, the offering is not universal for everyone.
According to the survey, most women visit a gynecologist for information and advice (75.9 percent), but immediately followed by “Dr. Google”: 42.6 percent of women surveyed said they used search engines. 27.7 percent ask healthcare providers and 27.3 percent read information websites about contraception.
Behind in the EU comparison
Many other EU countries have long offered better access to free contraception, advice and information. In a comparison of 46 countries, Luxembourg, Great Britain, France and Belgium are at the top. Austria has lost ten positions since 2017, moving from tenth in the rankings to twentieth.
For Gaiswinkler, the survey results show that “catching up is needed” in areas such as free advice and availability, gender equality; Health Minister Johannes Rauch sees a “clear mandate to tackle the issue”.
Pilot project in Vorarlberg
That is why a pilot project will start in the autumn: Through the ‘Femail Women’s Information Center Vorarlberg’, approximately 3,500 women and girls aged 14 and over in Vorarlberg will receive free contraceptives of their choice and free advice from the autumn of 2024 to the end of 2026. .
Initially, one million euros is available; must be evaluated after one year. The goal is a nationwide advice and care model.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
