Population stabilisation and birth control: the need
Falling death rates, lower MMR and IMR and more people of reproductive age have raised the population. Birth control with an ideal contraceptive helps stabilise it.
Why the population grew so fast
- A rapid decline in the death rate, thanks to better health facilities and living conditions.
- A fall in the maternal mortality rate (MMR) and the infant mortality rate (IMR).
- An increase in the number of people in the reproducible age group.
Why birth control is needed
Fast population growth can cause an acute shortage of basic needs, such as food, shelter and clothing, even when farms produce more. So the government motivates couples to have smaller families using contraceptive methods. The slogan 'Hum Do Hamare Do' (we two, our two) promoted the two-child family, and many young urban couples now choose one child. Raising the legal marriageable age to 18 years for women and 21 years for men is another step.
An ideal contraceptive should be
| Feature | What it means |
|---|---|
| User-friendly | Easy to use correctly |
| Easily available | Within reach of everyone who needs it |
| Effective | Prevents pregnancy reliably |
| Reversible | Fertility returns when its use is stopped |
| Few or no side effects | Safe to use for a long time |
| No interference | Does not affect sexual drive, desire or the sexual act |
Methods of birth control at a glance
| Group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Natural (traditional) | Periodic abstinence, withdrawal (coitus interruptus), lactational amenorrhea |
| Barrier | Condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps and vaults, used with spermicides |
| Intra-uterine devices (IUDs) | Lippes loop, CuT, Cu7, Multiload 375, Progestasert, LNG-20 |
| Oral pills, injectables and implants | Progestogen or progestogen-estrogen pills; Saheli (a non-steroidal weekly pill); hormone injections and implants |
| Surgical (sterilisation) | Vasectomy in males, tubectomy in females |
The 'Hum Do Hamare Do' message once painted on walls and buses across India promoted small families. Fewer children per family can mean more money and care for each child's food, health and schooling.
2 marks: “List four features of an ideal contraceptive.” User-friendly, easily available, effective, reversible, few or no side effects, no interference with sexual drive or the sexual act. Any four.
3 marks: “Give three reasons for the rapid growth of population. Suggest two steps to check it.” Decline in death rate; fall in MMR and IMR; more people of reproducible age. Steps: motivate small families through contraception; raise the marriageable age (18 for women, 21 for men).
1 marks: “Expand MMR and IMR.” Maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate.
An ideal contraceptive is SURE: Safe with few side effects, User-friendly and available, Reversible, Effective, and it does not interfere with sex.