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ShareContraception and planning children was more common in Mumbai. Now the rest of the state is doing it
MUMBAI: Sterilisation may soon give way to a new method of family planning: Couples keeping a few years between the births of two children. This is increasingly becoming a trend among young couples today, not just in Mumbai but also the rest of Maharashtra. As the Economic Survey 2007-08 shows, the number of sterilisation operations has dropped by 64,000 in 2006-07, and 1.62lakh in 2007-08.
The use of contraceptives to space out having children, is now being promoted as a significant method of family planning by the state government's family welfare programme. Unlike in metros, where popping pills was common, the use of the Copper T was still the best bet in the rest of the state.
The survey states: "Though sterilisation was the mainstay of the family welfare programme in the past, spacing the births of children has become an equally important aspect of population control." Therefore, "the government is giving more stress on propagation of spacing methods like Copper T and intra-uterine devices," it says. The Copper T acceptors in the state in 2007-08 (till January-end) recorded 3.07lakh users.
Nandita Palshetkar, gynaecologist with Lilavati Hospital, says: "The use of Copper T is more common among women who have already had a baby. The use of oral pills is more popular among newly-weds. The idea of suggesting spacing children out instead of sterilisation, is a good policy decision." Admitting there are still a lot of myths around contraceptives, she says, "Unlike the pills, which have to be taken daily, the inserted Copper T lasts seven days. In that sense it is hassle-free."
A health department secretary says, "Our policy to replace sterilisation with contraceptives is targeted at younger couples. Copper T however, is more affordable." Health minister Vimal Mundada adds: "The use of friendly contraceptive provides the much-needed breather to the woman." Effective implementation of population control plans has resulted in the low birth rate of 18.5 per cent in the state -- better than the national average of 23.5 per cent.
