Impact of Family Planning on Fertility in Jharkhand State: Based on NFHS Data

In the present study an attempt has been made to know the impact of family planning on fertility in Jharkhand State through the Prevalence Model. If prevalence levels of both programme and non-programme contraception are known, this technique permits the estimation of gross natural and potential fertility for assessing births averted. With the emergence of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS: 2005-06) to monitor family planning and health activities, this method becomes a useful tool. Of special, interest is the ability of the procedure to yield estimates by age group as well as by type of contraceptive methods used. In the study, the standard method-specific use-effectiveness levels weight observed use and prevalence level by method have been applied. Of the total births averted in Jharkhand State by programme contraception, 80 percent of births were averted by Sterilization users in 2005-06 while the spacing methods users contributed to about 20 per cent of the birth prevention. The spacing methods need to be strengthening for the greater use. With regard to the births averted by non-programme contraception /natural methods, the main contribution was made by the users of Rhythm of about 45 percent, which was followed by the users of Withdrawal of 43 percent and by the other methods of 13 percent. Of the total birth averted in Jharkhand State, the contribution of programme contraception and non-programme contraception/ natural methods is about 85 percent and 15 percent respectively in 2005-06. The programme contraception has the dominance role to control fertility however the non-programme contraception/natural methods use should also be enhanced at the places where accessibility of programme contraception is poor.