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Abstract

Changing family planning scenario in India (HTML
Santhya,K.G.
Regional Health Forum, WHO South-East Asia Region 8(1): 68-83
Publication date: 2004



Over the decades, there has been a substantial increase in contraceptive use in India. The direction, emphasis and strategies of the Family Welfare programme have changed over time. However, meeting the contraceptive needs of considerable proportions of women and men and improving the quality of family planning services continue to be challenges. The 1990s witnessed a growing recognition of this, and several innovative policy and programme initiatives have since been launched to address these issues. This paper reviews and synthesizes evidence from surveys and studies conducted in the 1990s and thereafter on the dynamics of contraceptive use and the unmet need for contraception in India. The paper also discusses some of the barriers that hindered the success of the programme and sheds light on new initiatives to address these, and assess their impact if any. The paper makes suggestions for areas that need further programme and research attention.