National Family Planning Programme

Family Planning

India, the second most populous country of the world, harbours 17.5% of the world’s population in only 2.4% of the global land mass. Coincidentally it also houses almost 17.3% of the world’s protected couples and 20% of world’s eligible couples with unmet need. Therefore, large population size of India not only impacts its own but also the global health indicators.

India became the first country in the world to initiate the family planning program in 1952 with the goal of lowering fertility and slowing the population growth rate.

Since October 1997, the services and interventions under the Family Welfare Program and the Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Program have been integrated with the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Program, addressing aspects such as client choice, service quality, gender issues and underserved groups, including adolescents.

In 2012 the ‘London Summit on Family Planning’ was held against this backdrop to bring back the focus on family planning globally. It further paved the way for increased investment (by countries, national/international agen­cies, academia, and the private sector) in expanding access to family planning services and knowledge mechanisms to an additional 120 million women and girls in the world’s poorest countries by 2020.

As a subsequent action, the Government of India adopted a new approach, which places a well-defined focus to the family planning efforts under a larger and more comprehensive umbrella of RMNCH+A (Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Adolescents) program. This paradigm shift was adopted recognizing the need and long-term goal of addressing a target free approach (beyond the simple strategy of achieving population stabilization), under the larger purview of improving maternal and child (and adolescent) health in India.

Since then, the country has accelerated its interventions to focus on the rollout of new contraceptives, institutionalization of fixed day services with aggressive focus on quality in family planning, revitalizing Postpartum and Post Abortion Family Planning services, enhanced focus on male participation, and community based schemes through ASHAs, streamlining and strengthening commodity security, Public Private Partnership etc. The government is also harnessing the expertise of various partners in the field of advocacy, capacity building, IEC and BCC through a new focused communications campaign, programme management, quality improvement, evaluation and assessments, feasibility studies, development of resource material and E- learning modules, software development, social marketing, social franchising and provision of skilled human resource for successful implementation of the programme.

Injectable Contraceptive-MPA
(Under Antara Programme)

What is Injectable contraceptive (MPA)?

Injectable contraceptive (MPA) is a hormonal contraceptive method for women that prevents pregnancy for three months.
How does it work?

It prevents monthly ovulation, thickens cervical mucus thus blocking sperms from meeting eggs.
Makes implantation of fertilized egg difficult
How is it used?

Get an injection every 3 months
It can easily be administered in the arms, thighs or buttocks
The date of subsequent dose may be remembered from MPA card provided.
Why injectable is the right choice?

It is a long-term effective, reversible method of contraception
Suitable for breastfeeding women (after 6 weeks of childbirth)
Does not require daily attention
Ensures user privacy

Beneficiary:

Beneficiary type (Eg: women), Sector (Eg: Health, Education)

Benefits:

Population control