Question

Do you think that reproductive health in our country has improved in the past 50 years? If yes, mention some such areas of improvement.

Answer 1

Yes, there have been significant improvements in reproductive health in India in the past 50 years. Some of the areas of improvement are:

• Reduction in maternal mortality rate: The maternal mortality rate (MMR) in India has decreased from 556 per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 113 per 100,000 live births in 2016. This reduction is due to various initiatives taken by the government, such as improving access to maternal health services, promoting family planning, and increasing awareness about the importance of antenatal and postnatal care.
• Increase in contraceptive use: The use of contraceptives has increased significantly in India in the past few decades. The National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4) data shows that the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) in India increased from 48.5% in 1992-93 to 54.8% in 2015-16. This increase is due to various government initiatives to promote family planning, including the National Family Planning Programme and the Janani Suraksha Yojana.
• Reduction in fertility rate: The total fertility rate (TFR) in India has decreased from 5.9 in 1951 to 2.2 in 2017. This reduction is due to various factors, including increasing use of contraceptives, better education and awareness about family planning, and increasing participation of women in the workforce.
• Increase in awareness about HIV/AIDS: There has been an increase in awareness about HIV/AIDS in India in the past few decades. The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) has implemented various initiatives to promote awareness about HIV/AIDS, such as the Red Ribbon Express train, which travelled across the country to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS.
• Increase in availability of reproductive health services: There has been an increase in the availability of reproductive health services in India in the past few decades. The government has set up various health centres and hospitals to provide reproductive health services to women and children. Additionally, various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have also been working to improve access to reproductive health services in rural and remote areas.