Understanding the Pattern of Contraceptive Switching and Discontinuation in India

Kiran Agrahari, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

In India, the use of spacing methods has increased from 10 to 18% among currently married women in the last 14 years. However, the sustained use of spacing methods remained low, as the use of 42% of all modern spacing methods was discontinued within a year. This paper analyses the calendar data of 2005-2006 National Family Health Survey of India to understand the contraceptive discontinuation and switching-over behavior of women. Two approaches, namely the cohort approach and single-decrement life table are used. Results indicate that the 12-month discontinuation rate of the cohort approach is 37% for the pill users, 19% for Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) and 9% for traditional methods. These rates are higher than the estimates derived using the single decrement life table. The switching-over from spacing to limiting method is higher compared to switching-over among spacing methods. Among the modern spacing methods, the switching-over is highest for injectables and lowest for the IUD.