Approximately 40% of maternal deaths were prevented as a result of family planning efforts.
NOT BSTOTAL BS
SOME BS — Verdict: Mixed
Verified by Lenz ·
The Short Version
The statement reflects a well-known older global estimate, but it is too imprecise to stand as a general fact. A major Lancet study estimated contraceptive use prevented about 44% of maternal deaths in 2008, which is close to 40%. However, more recent modeling reports a much lower share, around 24% for 2023, so the number depends materially on the year, model, and whether the claim means contraception specifically or broader family-planning programs.
Caveats
The strongest support is an older 2008 global estimate; newer estimates are substantially lower, so the claim can mislead if read as current.
“Family planning efforts” is broader than the underlying evidence, which mainly quantifies contraceptive use rather than every family-planning intervention.
The figure varies by model, country mix, and assumptions about maternal mortality, so it should be stated with a timeframe and source.