1.7 lakh women & 82 men went for family planning ops in Pune Municipal Corporation areas

PUNE: A two-month long survey by the Pune Municipal Corporation has found that some 1.73 lakh women in the city underwent family planning procedures, compared to just 82 men.
The survey, conducted between April 1 and June 30 by the PMC's health department, points to a long-standing problem India has had for years — despite safer procedures for men, the responsibility of family planning mostly falls on women, who have to undergo longer and more complicated surgical procedures.

The PMC survey covered more than 27.5 lakh people across 7.56 lakh households. It found that 1,73,915 women used tubectomy as a family planning method while only 82 men had undergone vasectomy. “Despite government incentives, the attitude of most men towards family planning methods is yet to change. Many fear these surgeries will impact physical strength, their sex drive or even masculinity,” said Avlokita Mane, president of the Family Planning Association, Pune branch.
She said general awareness too has been a problem. “Often, men who come to us don't know a lot about these surgeries. They are also found with high sugar and blood pressure. Many even have fungal infections. But in our experience, men are willing to undergo these procedures if they are properly briefed,” Mane said, adding that their centre has already conducted 73 procedures.
The PMC survey was part of an annual study conducted under the National Programme for Family Planning and is a record of every newly married couple.
This year, with the help of 260 ASHA workers, the PMC interviewed fertile couples on their thoughts on family planning and the kind of methods they have adopted.
Dr. Vaishali Jadhav, assistant health officer of the PMC said, “Every year, this survey is conducted under the National Program to collect information on fertile couples, immunization and pregnant mothers. The survey population is divided into 19 maternity hospitals and 57 clinics. Each ASHA worker is tasked with surveying at least 2,500 people. Pregnant women are also guided on regular health checkups and medication. Those with children below five years of age are told about early vaccination.”
The number of vasectomies is low but the PMC is still one of the highest performing civic bodies in the state when it comes to the number of such surgeries performed. It performed 90 vasectomies in 2021-22, which is 15% of all the procedures that were performed in the state during this period.