Facts To Surprise You On World Contraception Day

The annual multi-national survey, exploring young people's attitudes to sex and contraception, has been released to mark World Contraception Day (WCD) 2012, which takes place every year on September 26. World Contraception Day is an initiative sponsored by Bayer Health Care and was globally launched in 2007. In India this initiative is supported by Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) and Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) .
Key survey results - INDIA

First sexual intercourse:

• 36% of females had their first sexual intercourse when they were 24-29 years old, significantly higher than at least 3 countries.
• Overall, 55% of the respondents used the Male condom when first having sexual intercourse.
• Usage of contraception: 29% of men and women have had unprotected sex at least once.
• The most appealing contraceptive to females: 42% of the female respondents prefer to take a pill everyday to prevent pregnancy, while another 28% prefers to use an intra-uterine device (IUD), which is significantly higher than at least 3 countries.
• Responsibility for contraception: Only 52% of respondents think that they are both responsible for contraception, which is the lowest among all countries.
• Usage of contraceptive methods: 51% of respondents currently use the male condom as a form of contraception.

New data from the World Contraception Day 2012 survey shows that 36% of females in India had their first sexual intercourse when they were 24-29 years old. It also reveals that the gap between the age a woman first has sexual intercourse and the age at which has her first pregnancy is less in India as 48% of female respondents had their first pregnancy between 24-27 years.

This also points out the need for the use of reliable contraception for effective family planning and that contraception usage rates are still low in India.

According to the survey, only 52% of respondents in India think that they both partners are responsible for contraception, which is the lowest among all countries in Asia. 20% of males felt that neither parties are responsible for contraception.

For the first time, the annual World Contraception Day survey asked respondents about their long term family planning. The most preferred contraceptive method for long-term family planning was the male condom. Alarmingly though, almost 1 in 3 respondents did not see the need for contraceptives when it came to family planning or would rely on the withdrawal method. Results also show that 29% of men and women have had unprotected sex at least once.

"Together with FPAI and FOGSI, Bayer Zydus Pharma in India is working towards creating awareness on contraception. I urge every woman to take the future into their own hands especially beginning today on World Contraception Day. Talk to your partner and your doctor about a suitable contraceptive method that would complement your lifestyle and future plans" urges Angel-Michael Evangelista, Managing Director, Bayer Zydus Pharma.