Corona pandemic impacts fertility rates

Manish Gajbhiye

Aurangabad, July 10:

The entire world is facing the Corona pandemic crisis for over one and a half years now. According to the the United Nations Population Funds (UNPF), many countries have expressed growing concerns over the changing fertility rates resulting in rise in population. The result is due to the ineffective implementation of the family planning policies and sterilization and limited access to the contraceptives during the pandemic.

The first Corona wave hit the district in March, 2020. The entire health machinery was engaged in tackling the unpredicted crisis. The entire focus of the government and the health sector was to restrict the infection of the Coronavirus by using every possible measure. The other health services were severely hampered during the period of around one and a half years. The primary health centres, clinics and hospitals were converted into the Covid Care Centres and Covid Hospitals.

The sexual and reproductive health was the most affected sector. The unplanned pregnancies were on a rise due to disruptions in supply of contraceptives due to lockdown. Moreover, the pre and post pregnancies services were also severely affected.

During the year 2020-21, the targeted sterilization in the district was 18911 while only 453 surgeries were conducted by the end of June, 2021. The target achieved in the district by the health department was just 2 percent. The sterilization in women included 287 Tubectomy, 65 Laproscopy and 101 post-partum sterilizations. Notably, not a single male vasectomy surgery was conducted in the district during this period.

Moreover the target of the ultra-uterine contraceptive device (IUCD) was 17255 and only 2123 devices (12 %) were used in the district during 2020-21. The target of post-partum IUD was 8203, but only seven percent that is 590 was achieved.

Men apathetic for vasectomy

In the male-centric society, it is thought that the entire responsibility of the child from the birth to the upbringing is of the mother. Hence, the male are less concerned about the sexual and reproductive health. They are apathetic for the vasectomy surgeries, although, it is painless and stitchless. The prejudices in the society that they would develop impotency. Hence, the women have to brone the entire responsibility. During the pandemic phase, the women suffered a lot as there were no facilities to access the contraceptives were available leading to unwanted pregnancies. The statictics about the impact of the pandemic on the fertilization is not available locally at present, but the pregnancies and complications due to it have certainly increased.

- Dr Sudhakar Shelke

District Health Officer

Infertile couples suffered physically and mentally

The fertility rate has indeed increased during the Covid pandemic. The lockdown was imposed and the infertile couples and the fertile couples faced the severe problems as they could not avail the medical consultation. The couples suffering from were not able to get the required treatment due to which they suffered physically and mentally as well. Similarly, the couple with the fertility ability also faced the problems of unwanted pregnancies as they could not get the contraceptives services provided under the government programme. It has breached the right of the couple to chose the contraceptive.

- Dr Shrinivas Gadappa

Prof and head of Gynaecology department,

Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

Estimated district population crosses 45L mark, city 16L

Sr. No. Name of block Population

1. Aurangabad City 1599927

2. Aurangabad (rural)435135

3. Gangapur 437011

4. Kannad 401875

5. Khuldabad 134029

6. Paithan 404016

7. Phulambri 184954

8. Sillod 424309

9. Soyegaon 134495

10. Vaijapur 359672

11. Total 4515423

Family Planning performance scenario (2020-21)

Sr No. Indicators Estimated level achievement Actual level achieved

1. Total Sterilization 18911453

2. Total Female Sterilization 17337453

3. Tubectomy 17337287

4. Laproscopy 065

5. Vasectomy 15740

6.Post-partum sterilization4548101

7. IUCD 172562123

8.Post-partum IUD Insertions 8203590