Ranchi Family Planning: Low Male Sterilization Rates Highlight Gender Gap

Ranchi: Male participation in permanent family planning continues to remain low compared to women across Ranchi district, as figures of the last year pointed out that only 44 male sterilisation (vasectomy) procedures were conducted in comparison to over 2,845 among females.

Officials in the district health department on Saturday said the poor response to male sterilisation could be due to deep-rooted myths, lack of adequate awareness and social stigma associated with it.

“Many men continue to believe that the procedure affects physical strength or livelihood, despite medical evidence confirming that vasectomy is a simple, safe and minimally invasive procedure with quick recovery,” an official said.

Experts pointed out that male sterilisation is a far simpler procedure, involving only a minor surgical intervention. However, the response among men continues to remain very poor.

Data from recent years, too, underlined the trend. In the 2022–23 financial year, a total of 216 male sterilisations were recorded, compared to 4,803 female sterilisations. The gap widened in 2023–24, when male sterilisation cases rose slightly to 269, while female sterilisation increased significantly to 5,317.

District civil surgeon Dr Prabhat Kumar said, “The figures indicated that despite a marginal rise in vasectomy numbers, women continue to bear the overwhelming burden of permanent family planning.”

Dr Kumar added, “To encourage participation, the govt provides financial incentives for both procedures. Men opting for a vasectomy process are offered Rs 3,000, while women undergoing sterilisation receive Rs 2,000. Additionally, women who undergo sterilisation within seven days of delivery are eligible for a higher incentive of Rs 3,000. Despite the higher incentive for male sterilisation, uptake remains negligible.”