The tremendous impact parenthood has on the lives of individuals underscores the importance of having access to contraceptive information. Where access to family planning information and services is limited and contraceptive use is low, younger women seem to be the ones who suffer the most, as most programmes are tailored to the needs of married and older women. Under such limited access to contraceptive information and reproductive health services, women often have no choice but to consider abortion to end unwanted pregnancies.

 Contraception use is relatively widespread in many of the ECE member states, but in most of the transition countries in particular, access to family planning is limited and the number of unwanted pregnancies, especially among young women is still large. Abortion rates remain highest in transition economies, in some of which they have traditionally been high. In many of these countries, the number of abortions in the early 1990s was equal to or higher than the number of live births. During 1990s, as other contraceptive measures have become more easily available, abortions have begun to decrease in most countries.

 Examples of policies in the region:
Kazakhstan: policies on reproductive heath
Romania: reproductive health initiatives