Indians need to share contraceptive responsibility
Context
India has seen a decline in male sterilisation (vasectomies) over the decades. This decline is despite having policies that aim to promote gender-balanced sterilisation.
Relevance:
GS-02 (Health, Government policies and interventions)
Dimensions of the Article:
- What is the issue?
- What is a vasectomy?
- What is tubal ligation?
- Significance of Addressing the Gap
- Way Forward
What is the issue?
- Declining Vasectomy Rates: During 1966–70, 80.5% of sterilisation procedures were vasectomies. Today, male sterilisation stands at a mere 0.3% compared to 37.9% for female sterilisation (NFHS-5).
- Policy Gap: The National Health Policy 2017 aimed to increase male sterilisation to 30%, but this remains far from reality.
- Cultural and social norms: stereotypes and misconceptions, such as vasectomies reducing male libido or being a “woman’s responsibility,” dominate societal attitudes.
What is a vasectomy?
- It is a surgical procedure that results in male sterilization. It is done to block the sperm from reaching the semen that is ejaculated from the male reproductive organ. (Semen still exists, but it won’t have sperm in it.).
- During the procedure, the male vasa deferentia are cut and tied or sealed so as to prevent sperm from entering into the urethra and thereby prevent fertilisation of a female through sexual intercourse.
- It is a form of permanent birth control measure that cannot be easily reversed.
What is tubal ligation?
- Tubal ligation is a surgical procedure for female sterilisation in which the fallopian tubes are permanently blocked, clipped, or removed.
- This prevents the fertilisation of eggs by sperm and thus the implantation of a fertilised egg.
- Tubal ligation is considered a permanent method of sterilisation and birth control.
- Moreover, this procedure may also be performed for patients who are known to be carriers of mutations in genes that increase the risk of ovarian and fallopian tube cancer, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2.
Significance of Addressing the Gap:
- Gender Equality: Aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 5: Promoting male sterilisation can reduce the health and societal burden on women.
- Easier Procedure: Vasectomy is safer, simpler, and less invasive than tubectomy, making it a practical option.
- Global Lessons: Countries like South Korea, Bhutan, and Brazil have successfully increased vasectomy uptake through awareness campaigns, societal acceptance, and improved healthcare access.
Way Forward
- Awareness and Education:
- Begin sensitisation during adolescence through school-based programs and peer discussions.
- Use social campaigns to debunk myths and destigmatise vasectomies as a shared responsibility.
- Incentivisation:
- Increase conditional cash incentives for men undergoing vasectomies.
- Example: Madhya Pradesh increased its incentives by 50% in 2022.
- Healthcare System Strengthening:
- Train more health professionals to perform no-scalpel vasectomies.
- Ensure quality services and accessibility, especially in rural and tribal areas.
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