Female Sterilisation The Most Common Contraceptive Method: NFHS Report

Data from the National Family Health Survey 2019-21 revealed that the brunt of family planning in India is seen as the woman’s responsibility as female sterilisation is the most popular contraceptive method among married couples.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) around 67 percent of married couples in India are using at least one contraceptive method, an improvement from 2015-16 when the rate stood at 54 percent. 33 percent of married couples are not using any contraceptive methods.

The data revealed that 38 percent of married couples aged 15-49 years use female sterilisation as a contraceptive method, 10 percent of married women use male condoms, 10 percent use a traditional method, mostly the rhythm method, and 5 percent use pills. At 0.3 percent, male sterilisation is the least common contraceptive method among married couples.

Female Sterilisation

Female sterilisation is a permanent procedure that prevents pregnancy by blocking the fallopian tubes. At 38 percent, female sterilisation is the most common contraceptive method for married couples.

Only 58.7 percent of women who opted for female sterilisation were informed about side effects or problems, and only 50.8 percent received suggestions about what they should do if they experience any side effects.

The report also showed that only 65 percent of women were informed by a health or family planning worker about other contraceptive methods.

Moreover, more than 99 percent of married couples know at least one method of contraception and 75 percent of women saw or heard a family planning message in the past few months.

The report added that more than 35 percent of men believed that contraception is a women’s business and that men should not worry about it. In Punjab, over 77 percent of men believed that contraception is a women’s business, which was the highest in the country. Chandigarh stood second with 69 percent of men having the same belief.

The report also revealed that 20 percent of men believe that a woman who used a contraceptive may become promiscuous.

Meanwhile, among sexually active unmarried couples male condoms were the most commonly used contraceptive method at 27 percent, followed by female sterilisation at 21 percent.

Suggested Reading: Unmarried Women Prefer Safe Sex More Than Men, NFHS-5 Survey