Deliberate
on key issues regarding family planning including new-age and effective
contraceptives andvoluntary access to safe family
planning methods
New Delhi, 11th July, 2017: In a momentous occasion, 242 societies led by
the Federation of Obstetric and
Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) came together with 3 lakh doctors of the Indian Medical Association
(IMA) to raise awareness about the paradigm shift in contraception methods
available today. In line with the World Population Day theme of 2017, the motto
was to empower people with novel ways of family planning for the development of
the nation.
According
to ‘Vision FP 2020’, access to family planning can avert 2.39 crore births and
42,000 maternal deaths by 2020. About 21.3% of eligible couples in India have
unmet need for family planning. Although the Indian national family planning
programme began in the early 1950s and has seen success over the period, there
are still challenges such as those of access, choice, gender, equity, and
quality.
Speaking
on the occasion, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President
Indian Medical Association and President Heart Care Foundation of India
and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint
statement, said, “People need to be aware about the varied and effective
contraception choices that are at their disposal today. These include an irreversible
tubectomy, reversible long-acting spacing methods of contraception such as the
intrauterine device (effective for 3-10 years) and implants. Recently, many new
contraceptive choices have been added such as injectable contraceptives. These
are now available under the national family planning programme. We are happy to
join hands with FOGSI and together, we shall educate people towards allaying
myths and misconceptions about contraceptives as also create awareness on safe
family planning methods."
Adding to
this, Dr Rishma Dhillon Pai – President and Dr Hrishikesh D Pai - Secretary
General, Federation
of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) in a
joint statement said, “In 2015, over 7 lakh abortions were recorded, which
resulted from unwanted pregnancies – as an outcome of the unmet need of
contraceptives. According to NFHS IV, current use of family planning methods
among married women (15 to 49 years) is 47.8%. Therefore, we believe that the
impetus for reproductive health services specifically family planning services
would come from a more community-based approach which further has a huge
potential under Public-Private partnership. We at FOGSI are running a
postpartum IUCD programme funded by the International Federation of Gynecology
and Obstetrics (FIGO) under which we have been successful in the insertion of
IUCD among 15,781 patients. With the support of IMA, we aim to expand the
programme to all the 242 societies under FOGSI.”
Dr SK
Sikdar, Deputy Commissioner and HOD, Family planning division of Union Health
Ministry said, "According
to NFHS IV, about 5.7% of married women (15-49 years) in India have unmet need
for spacing. Our aim is to keep the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of the Indian
population to 2.1. Out of 36 states and Union territories of India, 24 of them
have already achieved the TFR of 2.1 or less. There is only 1 state in India -
Bihar - whose TFR is more than 3. The Government is undertaking a lot of
initiatives in the field of family planning. In the rural areas we have ASHA
(Accredited Social Health Activist) workers who visit the women in the
villages and educate them about the new age contraceptives, provide them
pregnancy kits etc. Today we are proud to announce that we have implemented
injectable contraceptives in the country. On World Population Day, we need to
raise awareness on the efficacy of new-age contraceptives and voluntary access
to safe family planning methods."
There are
two kinds of family planning options: temporary and permanent. Oral contraceptive
pills, male and female condoms, IUCDS, contraceptive injections are some of the
temporary methods. Among the permanent methods, both male and female
sterilization options are available in India. While male sterilization is not
as popular, it is recommended over female sterilisation.
Emergency
contraception is another important option that young adults should be aware of
and the right way to use it to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. It is important
that they know about Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs), so that if they have
unprotected sex and find themselves facing the possibility of an unplanned
pregnancy and its health and social consequences, they know that they can still
act to prevent it.
Instead of
the doctor taking a decision on behalf of the couple, the two should together
decide on what would be the best method of contraception taking into
consideration the personal preferences, and social and cultural factors along
with the efficacy, safety, and side effects of different contraceptives.
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