Contraceptive use by TN women low

Chennai: Although health indicators of Tamil Nadu fare well, it seems that knowledge and practice among married women in Tamil Nadu regarding use of contraceptives remain far below the national average.

As per the recently released outcome of SRS Baseline Survey, 94.5 per cent of the married women across the country are aware of the need of using contraceptives. However, only 50.02 per cent of them are using them regularly. So the gap is calculated as 44.3 per cent .

As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, the gap is 52 per cent. While 89.3 per cent are aware of the need of contraceptives, only 37 per cent are using them. While neighboring Kerala is far ahead, situation in Karnataka is almost similar to that of Tamil Nadu. Interestingly, Odisha and West Bengal are far ahead among the Indian states in the rate of awareness and practice of contraceptives.

“Most of the women who come to me are very knowledgeable. Couple use condoms (male) and pills widely in the initial stages of marriage. After the first baby, they prefer Copper T and later go for sterilisation. Without much fuss, they listen to these procedures. So, I’m quite confused with this survey’s results,” said Dr N Vijayalakshmi, a city based gynecologist.

According to the survey, the most popular contraceptive method used by women above 25 years of age is condom and women above 35 years of age opt for tubectomy. Contraceptive injection and female condom have very few takers.

“The data sounds a bit strange to me for various reasons. Mainly, there is a huge societal pressure to have the first baby within first year of marriage. So the issue of contraception does not arise here. After delivery, the hospitals and primary health centers (PHC) suggest the use of copper T to which most of the women agree. After the second child, they undergo sterilization. So where do these knowledge and practice of contraceptives come into play in the life of a common women?” asks Geetha Narayanan, Development consultant and researcher.

While the latest National Family Health Survey (2015-2016) showed women, who are not using contraception, but wish to postpone the next birth, or stop childbearing altogether, form 10.6 per cent in urban areas and 9.6 per cent in rural areas.