The latest projections by the United Nations that India will be the most populous nation by 2022 may be worrisome, but the country records the highest contraceptive prevalence rate for sterilisation a
The latest projections by the United Nations that India will be the most populous nation by 2022 may be worrisome, but the country records the highest contraceptive prevalence rate for sterilisation among other countries with similar demographics.
According to the data available with the government, India has recorded 36.9 per cent prevalence rate for sterilisation, followed by 36.3 per cent in the US, 34.2 in Brazil, 33.2 per cent in China, 33 per cent in Canada and 29 per cent in the UK. Interestingly, countries like Pakistan, South Africa and Indonesia record far less percentage of contraceptive prevalence rate for sterlisation. While, Pakistan reported a meagre nine per cent prevalence rate, Indonesia 3.4 per cent and South Africa stood at 15 per cent.
As per the latest world population prospects by the United Nations, the estimated population of India will be 1,419 million approximately, whereas China’s population will be approximately 1,409 million by 2022, despite the perceptible decline in the total fertility rate from 3.6 in 1991 to 2.3 in 2013. India is however, yet to achieve the replacement level of 2.1. So far, 24 states have already achieved the replacement level of TFR by 2013, however, states like UP and Bihar, with large population base still have TFR of 3.1 and 3.4 respectively. Also, according to the Union health ministry, Jharkhand (TFR 2.7), Rajasthan (2.8), Madhya Pradesh (2.9), Chattishgarh (2.6) continue to have higher levels of fertility and contribute to the growth of population.
To achieve better results, the government has increased the basket of contraceptives and is motivating people by providing services at their door step like, scheme for home delivery of contraceptives by Ashas, scheme for Ashas to ensure spacing in births, increasing compensation for sterlisation acceptors for 11 high focus states with high TFR. The government has also set major goals for 2020 by which it proposes to increase the financial commitment on family planning, ensuring access to family planning services to 48 million additional women by 2020 and sustaining the coverage of 100 million women currently using contraceptives.
