Emergency Contraception: Current Status in India

Abstract

Worldwide, the incidence of unsafe abortion has increased in spite of gradual increase in use of contraceptives. About one-third of pregnancies are unplanned and 20% pregnancies end in abortion. Lack of knowledge on emergency contraceptives is one of the reasons behind unplanned pregnancies in many developing countries. As per
NFHS-3, the overall knowledge about EC is meagre 12% among currently married women with several states having lower than 5%. Levonorgestrel (LNG) has been approved for use in India since 2001. The major initiative taken by the Government of India is by including ASHA in family welfare program where they act as depot holders and provide information and ECs to the women in rural areas where the knowledge and use is minimum but the requirement is maximum. LNG is a very safe and effective contraceptive pill, the efficacy ranging between 75–99%. Focus on improving awareness and availability of EC will definitely decrease unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions and maternal mortality.

Keywords: Emergency contraception, knowledge, emergency contraceptive pill, Levonorgestrel