Contraception plays a crucial role in the health and wellness of women in India. The health benefits of safe and effective contraception have been well documented: contraception prevents unwanted pregnancies, helps women with child spacing and family planning, and more importantly, enables them to exercise their reproductive rights.

However, the benefits of contraception extend far beyond these areas for women in India. When they can access contraception, the aforementioned primary benefits lead to a far-reaching impact in the areas of women's education, social mobility, financial independence, and career advancement. So, Contraception is more than just a tool for health and wellness; it contributes to creating a more equitable and prosperous society.

This article explores these profound effects, highlighting how Contraception serves as a catalyst for positive change in various facets of women's lives other than birth control.

Impact of Contraception in Various Aspects of Women’s Lives

Contraception impacts the lives of millions of women in India in various aspects other than reproductive health and birth control, including:

1. Education

Marriage and early motherhood are among the most significant reasons for girls discontinuing their education and lacking qualifications to start a career. According to UNICEF, around one in four women in India were married before the age of 18, and many of them soon become mothers. It is evident that these factors severely limit their education.

Education and women empowerment go hand-in-hand, and contraception is critical for ensuring the continuity of education for women in India. By preventing unplanned pregnancies and enabling family planning, Contraception delays childbearing until they have completed their education. As a result, women do not drop out and discontinue their education prematurely. When young women have access to Contraception, they can prioritise education and plan their future instead of being left without a choice other than bearing children and caring for the family.

It is not just about individuals gaining education and financial independence. The benefits snowball into a broader societal phenomenon where more women get education, participate in the workforce, and contribute to the economy.

• Around one in four women in India were married before the age of 18.
• Early marriage and childbearing are the primary reasons for women discontinuing education.
• Access to contraception enables family planning.
• Contraception lets them postpone pregnancy until they can complete their education.
• When they can complete their education, it expands the scope for earning.

2. Social Mobility

Fighting the effects of inflation on expenditure in a family and overcoming poverty requires women's participation and social mobility, which refers to the ability to move up the social and economic ladder. Traditional gender roles often dictate women's lives in India, and they are often expected to be the sole caretakers of the children. As a result, childbirth is one of the main reasons for women being unable to work/ resigning from their jobs and not achieving social mobility.

However, this can change when women gain the ability to plan pregnancies and have the autonomy to make their own life choices. When women can participate and bring income to their families, they can break the trap of poverty, and the family will be in a better position to improve their socio-economic status and achieve upward social mobility.

The World Bank has noted that women with access to contraception are more likely to achieve higher levels of education and career success, thereby improving their social status and economic standing. Contraception makes this possible by allowing women in India to control the timing and spacing of their pregnancies. It gives them the time to pursue higher education, seek better job opportunities, build a rewarding career, and achieve social mobility.

• Women's participation and social mobility are vital for combating poverty.
• Childbirth often forces women to stay at home/leave their jobs due to traditional gender roles.
• Planning pregnancies empowers women to participate and contribute to the upward social mobility of their families.
• The World Bank notes that contraception access leads to higher education and career success for women.
• Contraception allows women to plan childbirth, pursue higher education and find better jobs.

3. Financial Independence and Career Advancement

Women can remain financially independent only when they have their own income sources. Getting a stable income requires women to gain experience at work and enjoy career advancement. For that, they need to remain in their jobs longer without breaks in the first place. However, unplanned pregnancies can take women off their jobs temporarily or permanently. Even if they can join work after maternity leave, prolonged breaks can significantly pause their career advancement for a long time, impacting their career and preventing them from achieving their career goals.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), women with access to family planning services are more likely to remain in the workforce longer, gain experience, and advance to higher positions. A2018 report by the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) states that women who have control over their reproductive lives are more likely to participate in the labour market and pursue long-term career goals.

These findings reinforce the fact that effective contraception methods like Saheli OCP enable women to gain financial independence, stay in their jobs longer, get experience, advance in their careers, and increase their income, by delaying and spacing out pregnancies. Further, they allow women to plan their careers without interruptions from unplanned pregnancies. This financial independence and career growth let women contribute to their households, invest in their children's education, and save for the future. So, Contraception plays a massive role in improving women's economic stability and security.

• Women need consistent income sources and job continuity for financial independence.
• Unplanned pregnancies can force women to leave their jobs temporarily or permanently.
• Career breaks due to pregnancies hinder women's career advancement.
• Women who control their reproductive lives are more likely to pursue long-term career goals.
• Contraception enables women to plan pregnancies, stay in jobs longer without unexpected breaks, and advance their careers.

4. The Broader Societal Impact

While Oral Contraceptive Pills can have a significant impact on women’s lives at a personal level, the benefits also have a broader societal impact.

• Contraception improves the education, financial independence, and social mobility of women in India.
• They enable women to participate in the economy and the nation's development.
• Women’s participation leads to higher productivity, economic growth, and poverty reduction.
• Family planning impacts the demographic dividend and the country’s age structure, unlocking its growth potential.
• Tapping the economic growth potential leads to creating a more prosperous and equitable society.
• According to the UN, families with fewer children to support can invest more in each child’s education and health.
• The ability to invest more in children's health and education can lead to a more educated and healthier workforce in the future.

5. Gender Equality

While Contraception promotes gender equality, as women can exercise their reproductive rights and make informed decisions about their bodies and health, it also promotes gender equality through indirect ways, such as equal opportunities for education, employment, and political participation. This, in turn, leads to more inclusive and sustainable development. For instance, when women have political participation and representation, it gets easier to develop inclusive policies and programmes that benefit women, children, and everyone.

When women advance in their careers and attain leadership positions, it reduces the gender gap in decision-making roles, contributing to greater gender equality in the workplace. By empowering women, Contraception also contributes to the reduction of gender-based violence and discrimination, creating a safer and more equitable environment for all.

Challenges and the Way Forward

While Contraception offers proven benefits to women, families, communities, and the country in general, there are numerous challenges in attaining those benefits.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2019-21, only 53.5% of currently married women use any form of contraception. It is imperative to increase this percentage and make contraception accessible to women to enable them to break free from traditional gender roles and pursue their aspirations.

• Government policies and programmes play a crucial role in promoting access to contraception. The Indian government has implemented various initiatives to improve family planning services.
• Limited access to contraceptive methods either restricts women from a wide-ranging choice of methods to choose from or completely stops them from choosing contraception. It is indispensable to increase the availability and access to affordable contraceptives like the Saheli OCP in underserved areas.
• Lack of education and awareness about the benefits of Contraception remains a challenge for contraception to gain widespread adoption. It can be overcome through education and awareness campaigns to dispel myths and misconceptions about Contraception and highlight its broader benefits.

Contraception: A Tool for Transforming Women’s Lives

Contraception has a transformative impact on women’s lives in India. The benefits of Contraception extend far beyond reproductive health and wellness. They enable women to pursue education, build successful careers, achieve social mobility, and attain financial independence, empowering them and ensuring societal progress. So, increasing access to Contraception for all women is essential for creating a more equitable and prosperous society.

FAQs

1. How does family planning contribute to women's empowerment?

Family planning enables women to control the timing and spacing of pregnancies, allowing them to pursue education, remain in the workforce, and advance their careers, leading to greater financial independence and social mobility.

2. How does contraception benefit society?

Contraception benefits society by empowering women to contribute to the economy, reducing poverty, and fostering gender equality. It leads to higher education levels, career success, and economic stability, enhancing overall economic development.

3. What are the impacts of women's empowerment?

Women's empowerment through education and career advancement increases personal income, reduces the gender gap in leadership, and improves economic stability for families. It contributes to societal growth, economic development, and greater gender equality.