Women bear the burden of sterilisation in Uttar Pradesh

Women in Uttar Pradesh are not just home makers. The burden of keeping their families small also rests on their shoulders.

Women in Uttar Pradesh are not just home makers. The burden of keeping their families small also rests on their shoulders.

The National Family Health Survey-IV (NFHS-IV) data shows only 0.1% men in the state choose sterilisation while 17.3% women have opted for it, indicating how men shy away from family planning responsibilities.

The data was clearly an indication that such methods needed to be promoted along with removing myths around them, which perhaps was not done, said a doctor.

There were 45 districts where none of the male respondent aged between 15 and 49 years of age had undergone sterilisation. Hence the average of the state for male sterilisation was 0.1% in NFHS-IV.

“Men have the decision-making power in families and as a result even if they agree to family planning, the burden is on the female partner to undergo procedures,” said Dr Nilam Singh, head of Vatsayla, an NGO working for women empowerment.

She said that the ratio of male-female sterilisation was 60:40 until the laparoscopic technique came in to practice. “Ever since the laparoscopic method came in, men avoided undergoing the family planning method,” said Dr Singh adding: “There should be a ratio for sterilisation.”

NFHS-IV survey was conducted in the state among 76,233 households, interviewing women between 15 and 49 years of age and men between 15 to 49 years of age.