Why contraception is essential health care in humanitarian crises

Contraception is often framed as a political issue. In humanitarian settings, it is essential health care. 

In this episode of The Humanitarian Lens, host Chigo Ahunanya speaks with Dr. Julia McDonald, a family medicine physician, about how MSF provides contraception care in contexts facing conflict, displacement, and limited access to health services. Drawing on her work with Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and Nigeria, Dr. McDonald shares how MSF teams address barriers to care such as distance, misinformation, and stigma. The conversation also explores person‑centered and trauma‑informed care, patient autonomy, and why access to accurate information is critical for reproductive and maternal health.