Bhubaneswar: Odisha is witnessing a rise in the number of married women who want to control pregnancies but are not using any contraceptive method, according to the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) for 2023-24. The survey revealed that 10% of married women in the state have an unmet need for family planning, up from about 7% in the previous round (NFHS-5, 2019-21). This means one in every 10 women desires to delay or stop childbirth but lacks access to or is not using any family planning method.
At the national level, however, only 8.5% of married women have an unmet need for family planning, which is lower than Odisha’s figure. The data showed a nearly equal split between women wanting to space births and those wanting to end childbearing altogether. Around 4.7% of women wish to delay their next child but are not using any method, while 5.3% do not want more children but remain unprotected.
Health experts highlight gaps in awareness and accessibility
Health experts said this trend points to significant gaps in awareness, accessibility, and counselling services. The rise in unmet need comes alongside a decline in modern contraceptive usage in the state, indicating that more couples may be relying on traditional methods or none at all. In Odisha’s urban areas, 9.1% of women have this unmet need, marginally lower than in rural pockets (10.1%), highlighting continuing challenges in last-mile healthcare delivery.
The NFHS-6 report further stated that use of contraceptives among married couples in Odisha has declined sharply, while reliance on less reliable methods and female sterilisation remains high. Only 66% of couples are using any family-planning method, down from around 74% in the previous survey. This is also less than the national figure of 69.1%.
Decline in modern contraceptive use
Use of modern methods has dropped significantly to about 41%, even as 25% still depend on traditional methods, including withdrawal and fertility awareness-based methods, which are considered less effective. That means one in four married women in Odisha use traditional methods of contraception. Female sterilisation continues to dominate at over 26%, while male sterilisation remains negligible at 0.3%, highlighting a persistent gender imbalance.
Public health specialists warned that a high unmet need for family planning can lead to unplanned pregnancies, increased maternal health risks, and added pressure on family resources.
“Many couples use traditional methods of contraception. If unplanned pregnancies happen, they get over-the-counter abortion pills. But they should know it is very dangerous for women’s health. They should consult doctors for proper contraception,” said Saubhagya Kumar Jena, head of the obstetrics and gynaecology department at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar.
A married woman from Ganjam said she fears modern contraception methods may create hormonal imbalance. “I do not use these modern methods, fearing side effects,” she said.
Need for strengthened outreach programmes
The experts emphasised the need for Odisha to strengthen outreach programmes, improve access to temporary contraceptive methods like pills and condoms, and promote informed choices among couples. They called for targeted interventions in rural areas and better counselling services to address misconceptions and side-effect fears.
The findings underscore the urgency of addressing barriers to family planning access, including lack of awareness, limited availability of contraceptive methods, and cultural resistance. Without concerted efforts, the rising unmet need could exacerbate maternal health challenges and strain household resources.
