New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) On World Contraception Day on Thursday, experts said that more than 65 per cent of the country’s population falls in the reproductive age group. Hence, there is a need to invest in contraceptive options, especially for spacing children.
World Contraception Day is celebrated every year on September 26 to raise awareness about the importance of family planning and reproductive health. This year’s theme is “A Choice for All, Freedom to Plan, Power of Choice”.
Keeping an adequate gap between pregnancies can improve the health of the mother and the child. This will reduce unwanted pregnancies. Along with this, there will be more financial stability for families.
“With 65 per cent of the country’s young population below the age of 35, there is an urgent need for investment in contraceptive options, especially birth control methods,” Poonam Mutreja, executive director of the Population Foundation of India, told IANS.
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 5 (2019-21), four per cent of contraceptive deficiency could be used to space out births.
“Increasing access to these options will improve health outcomes, reduce health care costs, and improve women’s economic status as they gain the opportunity to work,” Mutreja said.
He called for improvements in the quality of care in family planning and reproductive health services.
“Policies should prioritize providing respectful, high-quality care, as women who feel respected are more likely to use contraception effectively and adopt healthy family planning practices,” Mutreja said.
In 2023, India has introduced two new long-term reversible contraceptive methods into its public health system. These are – subdermal implant and subcutaneous intramuscular injection.
While this comes after a delay of 30 years, during which Indian women were deprived of crucial contraceptive options, it has also been adopted by many countries across the world, including our neighbours like Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel recently said that the acceptance of modern contraceptives in India has increased to more than 56 percent.
The country’s National Family Planning Programme currently provides a variety of reversible modern contraceptives including condoms, intrauterine contraceptive devices, pills, injectable contraceptives, etc.
“Contraception is an empowerment tool, but it is important to balance it with the realities of reproductive health,” Dr Neha Khandelwal, Director, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, New Delhi, told IANS.
Meanwhile, Mutreja also urged active participation of men in family planning programmes.
“By involving men as equal partners in family planning, we can open an important path to bring about meaningful change in the country,” the public health expert said.
–IANS
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