Abstract

CURRENT STATUS OF CONTRACEPTIVES USE

Sudha Sah*, Anamika Jaiswal and Pooja Paul

Abstract

Prevention of unplanned pregnancies and access to family planning services have been one of the greatest advances in healthcare in the 20th century. Family planning is an integral part of the health care of women. It also affects maternal mortality rates, population growth, and the status of women in society. Birth control, family planning, pregnancy prevention, fertility control, or contraception is the use of any practices, methods, or devices to prevent pregnancy from occurring in a sexually active woman. Contraception can occur at a number of points in the basic reproductive biological process and through a number of contraceptive product options. Contraceptive products are categorized by their hormonal content and method of action. Hormonal options include oral contraceptive pills, contraceptive patch, implants, injection, intravaginal, and intrauterine devices. Barrier products prevent pregnancy by creating a physical obstacle to the successful fertilization of an egg by sperm. Contraceptive use and unmet need for family planning are key to understanding profound changes in fertility and to improving reproductive health worldwide. In almost all regions of the world, contraceptives are used by the majority of women in the reproductive age range (15-49 years) who are married or in a union. Worldwide in 2017, 63 per cent of these women were using some form of contraception. Contraceptive use was above 70 per cent in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Northern America, while being below 25 per cent in Middle and Western Africa. India is one of the among fastest growing economies having 59 percent contraceptive users.

Keywords: Fertility control, contraception, contraceptive, hormonal, oral contraceptive pills.