Why education of women helps in family planning
Since 70% Indians stay in rural areas, it is imperative that population control is embraced by villagers as well
Who hasn’t dreamt of a utopian world, where the potentialities that slumber in its population are realised and every individual empowered? As population growth reaches exponential proportions, there is increasing focus on family planning globally. Family planning programmes across nations have demonstrated a far-reaching impact on gender equality, women’s empowerment, maternal and child health and economic growth. With 70% of Indian population residing in villages and growing urbanisation, it is imperative that the praxis of family planning is embraced by the rural community as well as the urban.
The praxis itself is not complicated, with a basket of contraceptive choices going a long way in regulating population growth. Despite the availability of options, female sterilisation still accounts for two-thirds of contraceptive use in India. Creating awareness on modern reversible contraceptive choices among lowincome women benefits the government by maximising cost savings, reducing the disparities in access to family planning services, thereby decreasing the incidence of abortion.
UNFPA studies conducted in more than 40 developing countries show that birth rates fall as women gain equality. In rural areas, education allows women to be in control of their lives not just financially but also reproductively. African countries like Rwanda and Ethiopia, despite the late advent of family planning, have enjoyed a rapid increase in their use in recent years. Their political champions view family planning as a central aspect of their national priorities on gender, women’s empowerment, rural development and education. Whether it is India, China or Sri Lanka, with female education and family planning, greater prosperity has followed.
The recently released National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) shows these investments in communities have begun to show dividends. Districts with higher modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) are also the districts with significant reduction in child marriage, adolescent pregnancies, physical violence and an increase in women’s literacy. Educated women conscious of family planning are, therefore, the fulcrum of an empowered society.
Globally the concern and support for family planning are resurgent and there is a need to streamline policies and strategies to achieve universal access to family planning and address the unmet need. After all, a finite world can only support a finite population.