New Delhi: Female sterilisation remains the most popular contraceptive method among married couples. In other words, family planning in India seems to be a woman’s responsibility. According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS) (2019-21), about 67% of married couples in India are using at least one contraceptive method. It stands at 69.3% in urban areas while 65.6% in rural areas.
On the brighter side, the total demand for family planning among currently married couples in India increased from 66% in 2015-16 to 76% in 2019-21. Further, modern contraceptive use by currently married women has increased from 48% to 56% between 2015-16 and 2019-21. “Among currently married women aged 15-49, 38% use female sterilization, followed by male condoms (10%) and pills (5%). Ten per cent use a traditional method, mostly the rhythm method,” the NFHS-5 reads.
Among states, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal (74% each), have some of the highest use of contraceptive methods. The other states are Chandigarh (77%) and Delhi (76%). IT is the lowest in Meghalaya (27%), Mizoram (31%), Ladakh (51%), Lakshadweep (53%) and Bihar (56%).
Modern methods include male and female sterilisation, injectables, intrauterine devices (IUDs/ PPIUDs), contraceptive pills, implants, female and male condoms, diaphragm, foam/jelly, the standard days method, lactational amenorrhoea method, and emergency contraception.
It’s a women’s business
More than 35% of men aged 15-54 feel that contraception is women’s business and a man should not have to worry about it, the report shows. “More than one-third of men believe that contraception is women’s business and that men should not have to worry about it,” the report added.
The numbers further show that men across the background have similar beliefs – be it age groups, schooling levels, religion or wealth quintile, with certain exceptions. Among exceptions are young men — just 30% of men between 15 and 19 years have this opinion. The highest variation can be seen when men are divided in terms of religions — about 65% Sikh men feel that contraception is women’s business, while when it comes to Jains, the share is just 17.4% and in Buddhists, it is 21%.
Unmarried couples
Among sexually active unmarried couples, male condoms are the most commonly used method (27%), followed by female sterilization (21%). The use of condoms increased from 12% in 2015-16 to 27% in 2019-21 among these couples.
