Background: Maternal mortality remains one of the most devastating and preventable causes of death globally and studies have shown that addressing the unmet need for contraception alone could reduce mortality by as much as 30%. However, barriers to contraceptive access remain and a disconnect between interventions centered on maternal and neonatal health and family planning create challenges for international institutions.

Objective: This study aimed to map the contraceptive work across the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s (FIGO) member societies to provide insights into the contraceptive work, challenges, and needs globally and identify avenues for international collaboration.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional qualitative study design. A 17-question semi-structured interview guide was developed with key stakeholders. Eligible member societies were contacted via email and interviews were conducted on Zoom, audio recorded, and transcribed. Interviews were conducted in English, Spanish, and French per interviewee request. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive analysis and qualitative data was thematically coded using Dedoose.

Results: Of the 138 FIGO member societies, 68 were interviewed for this study and participation was well-distributed across all five FIGO regions. Among respondents, 37% indicated their society had a specific, and dedicated working group focused on family planning and 84% indicated they had national contraceptive guidelines. Furthermore, 59% stated they had some form of standardized contraceptive training – although the content was variable. Most respondents indicated their priorities lay in training physicians in contraceptive skills and counselling, adolescents, male contraception, and addressing misinformation and cultural barriers. Moreover, respondents also stated they would be most interested in collaborative efforts focused on provider training, regional collaboration, community awareness and guideline development.

Conclusions: As we enter a time where reproductive health is increasingly challenged and scrutinized, it will be critical to find avenues for international collaboration to advance contraceptive access, provision, information, and usage globally.