Introduction
Reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes. Reproductive health therefore implies that people are able to have an independent, self-satisfying and safe sex life with desired frequency, pleasure, autonomy and self-designed family size.
Birth control, also known as contraception and fertility control, is methods or devices used to prevent pregnancy. Birth control methods have been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods only became available …show more content…
In less developed countries, about one-fourth of pregnancies are unintended—that is, either unwanted or mistimed3. One particularly harmful consequence of unintended pregnancies is unsafe abortion: An estimated 18 million unsafe abortions take place each year in less developed regions, contributing to high rates of maternal death and injury in these regions4.
A gap still exists between women’s preferences and actions which has inspired many governments to initiate or expand family planning programs in order to reduce unintended pregnancies and lower the fertility rates in these countries5.
Recent study estimates that more than 200 million women in the developing world have an unmet need for family planning6. If this unmet need were met, unintended pregnancies would be fewer, women’s health and lives would be improved, and the consequent impact on fertility would result in lower population growth and measurable development benefits.
Family planning in India is based on efforts largely sponsored by the Indian government. In the 1965-2009 period, contraceptive usage has more than tripled (from 13% of married women in 1970 to 48% in 2009) and the fertility rate has more than halved (from 5.7 in 1966 to 2.4 in 2012), but the national fertility rate is still high enough to cause long-term population