There is a pressing need to spread awareness about birth control as a stable component for primary and productive health, Family Planning Association of India’s (FPA India) Bhopal branch president Dr Mamta Mishra said in Bhopal yesterday.
“According to a study, nearly 30 per cent women in Madhya Pradesh are not aware of the methods of contraception as no such information reaches them,” she said during a meeting with media persons to sensitise them about the state of family planning in MP.
Family planning is integral in promoting primary health care and reproductive health, Dr Mishra said adding that media can play an important role in spreading awareness about the rising population.
She said lack of awareness is the reason behind the limitations of family planning programmes.
“People consider use of condom as the best way for family planning, therefore, its quality should be improved and a system should be developed to ensure that it reaches every household,” Dr Mishra said.
FPAI’s director, advocacy, Bindiya Nimla also emphasised that media can play an important role in increasing awareness about family planning.
The journalists present at the meeting believed that FPAI should share its success stories with people through print, electronic and social media platforms to generate awareness about birth control.