Employed women more likely to use modern contraception: National Family Health Survey report

The findings also show that contraceptive usage increases in communities and regions that have seen more socio-economic progress. The data shows that the ‘Unmet need for family planning methods’ is highest among the lowest wealth quintile (11.4 per cent) and lowest among the highest wealth quintile (8.6 per cent). Usage of modern contraceptives also increases with income, from 50.7 per cent of women in the lowest wealth quintile to 58.7 per cent of women in the highest quintile.

“This data adds to the mountain of evidence that proves that development is the best contraceptive,” Poonam Muttreja, the executive director of Population Foundation of India, said. “While there is much to celebrate in the NFHS-5 data, our focus should now be to reach the unreached. We must do more for the marginalized sections of the society, who may be underprivileged on the basis of class, identity or geography.”

The data showed that knowledge of contraceptive methods is almost universal in India—more than 99 per cent of currently married women and men aged between 15 and 49 know at least one modern method of contraception. However, the use of modern contraceptives for family planning stood at only 56.4%.

“It’s a matter of concern that female sterilisation remains the most popular method of contraception, showing that the onus of family planning continues to be on women. We need to increase the number of birth-spacing methods in the public health system, given that we have a large young population in the reproductive age group, which contributes to 70 per cent of our population momentum,” Muttreja said.

While the countrywide numbers are encouraging, we must remember that there are wide inter-regional variations. Five states still have not achieved a replacement-level of fertility of 2.1 — the rate at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next. These states are Bihar (2.98), Meghalaya (2.91)), Uttar Pradesh (2.35), Jharkhand (2.26) and Manipur (2.17).

“Considering the huge population size and profound demographic diversity in the country, context-specific policy and programmes will be needed for states, passing through different stages of the demographic transition,” Muttreja said. “The country needs to prioritise investment in providing quality sexual and reproductive health information and services, education, skill-building and gender equality initiatives for the young population. Our experience shows that targeted social and behaviour change communication campaigns can address social norms, harmful practices, and promote male engagement in family planning.”