Safe sex new trend in Maharashtra's Vidarbha; use of condoms increased significantly

NAGPUR: The latest figures from the national family health survey 5 show a significant increase in the use of family planning measures in Vidarbha. Against 72% in 2016, 78% adults in the 11 districts of Vidarbha are now using family planning methods.
Interestingly, with 84% of the adults using some or the other method of family planning, Nagpur district is topping the state. All the districts in the top five of the Maharashtra table are from Vidarbha. They are Buldhana (81%), Chandrapur (80%), Wardha (79%), Amravati (79%) and Yavatmal (78%).
While the contraceptive rate of Maharashtra is 66%, all the 11 districts in Vidarbha have a better rate than the state average.

The survey states that the traditional methods of sterilization (both male and female) are going down and the modern method of family planning like the use of condoms has increased remarkably. In 2016 (NFHS-4), nearly 7.1% adults in Vidarbha said they used condoms as a means for family planning and safe sex.
In the survey (2019-21), 14.1% in urban Vidarbha and 10% in rural said they used condoms. Overall, the use of condoms has increased by over 3% in Vidarbha, which is significant.
Meanwhile, the percentage of women taking birth control pills reduced from 2.4% in 2016 to 1.7% in 2021. Male sterilization went down to 0.1% from 0.4% while female sterilization reduced from 50.7% to 44%.
Sexologist Dr Sanjay Deshpande said the survey indicates that people are not only preferring safe sex, but also increasing pre-marital sex. “Family planning means like sterilization are used by married couples while condom can be used by all irrespective of marriage. The latest survey results strongly indicate that pre-marital sex has increased. This result backs our community health studies regarding sex before marriage,” he said.