Women’s Equality Day: Family Planning and Gender Equality

Women’s Equality Day was first observed in 1971 in America to commemorate the amendment adopted in 1920 that gave women equal rights to vote. Ever since, it is celebrated in other countries as well to stress the importance of equal access to resources, opportunities, and protection to women. Among other things, family planning is one key area that calls for equal women participation to promote empowerment and better health of the females in our country.

Family Planning in India

India became the first country to emphasize the importance of family planning when it first launched a national-level program for the same in 1952. Since then, the program has undergone various changes in terms of policies (such as National Population Policy, National Health Policy, etc.) and their implementation to achieve:

• Population control and stabilization,
• Better reproductive health of women, and
• Reduction in maternal and child mortality rates.

But despite these efforts over the years, we are yet to achieve success at all levels. One of the major issues due to which these programs failed to deliver the expected results is that, unfortunately, men are still the sole decision-makers in many families (in most cases) when it comes to family planning. Many times, the decisions are forced on women without considering their health, opinion, and choice.

The Importance of Gender Equality in Family Planning

Since childbearing is the responsibility of a woman, her participation in family planning is inarguably essential. The woman must be mentally, physically and emotionally stable and ready for bearing a child. When family planning decisions are made without a woman’s opinion, it may lead to the mother and the child’s poor mental and physical health. Hence to make the family planning programs a success, men and women must exercise equal rights in the decision-making process.

Responsibilities of a Women in Family Planning

As a woman with equal rights in family planning, you must be responsible for:

•      Your Readiness: Analyse if you are mentally and emotionally ready for expanding the family. The priorities must be sorted, and the decision must not be forced upon you.
•      Communication: Communicate with your partner clearly on what you’ve decided and ensure your partner is with you.
•      Right Contraception:If you want to delay the pregnancy, adopting a suitable contraception method is essential. Male condoms, while they work, do not give you control of your decision. Unwanted 21 Days, Regular oral contraceptive tablets were born with the idea that getting pregnant should be in the hands of women first and not men.
•      Gap Between Pregnancy: If you are already a mother, ensure that the gap between the two kids is at least 2-3 years. This gap is essential for optimum development of the older kid as well as for your reproductive health. An effective contraception method can help you manage this gap.

Empower Women, Empower Society

As the second-most populous country, it is high time for us to create awareness about family planning among people. Empowering women by giving them equal rights in planning the family can help us address critical issues such as poor maternal health in females and infant mortality, thereby further strengthening society.

Disclaimer: This blog is solely intended for educational/informational/awareness purposes and is not a substitute for any professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your doctor/healthcare professional before acting on the information provided on the blog. Reliance on any or all information provided in the blog is solely at your own risk and responsibility. Mankind Pharma Limited shall not be held liable in any circumstance whatsoever.