Significant strides have been made in terms of raising awareness on family planning methods among the Bhutanese population. Bhutan introduced family planning programme in 1971.
The improvement made is evident from the existing contraceptive prevalence rate of over 65 per cent, which is quite a leap from just 18 per cent in 1994.
Contraceptive is a device or drug that prevents pregnancies.
Similarly, family planning is a strategy that allows people to attain the desired number of children and determine the spacing of pregnancies through the use of contraceptive methods and infertility treatments.
Four temporary family planning methods- oral contraceptive, DNPA injection, condoms and copper T Intra Uterine Device (IUD), are available in the country.
There are also permanent methods such as male and female sterilization services.
The health ministry also endorsed the introduction of implants, which is a long acting reversible contraceptive method, this year.
Health ministry officials say most of the women prefer DNPA injection.
“As of date, we have as high as around 48 per cent of the women using DNPA injection,” Pema Lethro, the health ministry’s Programme Officer said.
Contraceptive methods enable couples to delay or prevent pregnancies and maintain birth gap between the children.
Doctors say a birth space of two years has to be maintained.
“If the birth space of two years is not maintained, then we are more likely to have low birth rate babies and pre-term babies,” Pema Lethro added.
The use of contraception also prevents HIV infections.
Family planning services reduce unintended pregnancies and prevent unsafe abortions, which ultimately brings down the number of mother and child deaths.
Family planning, however, is entirely voluntary. It is a human right based service, meaning couples have the right to choose or decide the number of their family.
