Contraceptive use reaches 82 percent in Gurudaspur, women make up the large majority of users

The overall rate of contraceptive use in Gurudaspur upazila of Natore has risen to about 82 percent, according to the monthly progress report of the district family planning office. According to the report, 88 percent of those using a method are women. Among eligible couples in the upazila, the tendency to adopt both permanent and temporary methods is increasing.

According to the source, the total population of Gurudaspur's six unions and one municipality is 234,342. Of them, the number of eligible couples is 54,572.

Of these, 37,189 people use temporary methods and 7,338 use permanent methods. The number of couples who have taken permanent or temporary methods from government agencies is 44,527.

Among users of temporary methods, 23,264 take oral pills, 4,758 use condoms, 6,021 take injectables, 2,774 have implants and 373 use an IUD.

A total of 7,338 men and women have adopted permanent methods. Of them, 6,590 are women and only 748 are men.

By union, Mashinda Union tops the list for eligible couples' method use, at 83.39 percent. The lowest rate is in Khubjipur Union, at 78.61 percent.

Some 18.41 percent of all eligible couples, that is 10,045 couples, still remain outside method use. On this, upazila health and family planning officer Dr A S M Almas said a large share of eligible couples had been covered by non-governmental organisations, but after their projects closed, activities in those areas fell to zero.

Dr Almas said family planning workers go from house to house encouraging people to use government contraceptive supplies, explaining their advantages and disadvantages, and promoting small families. Permanent, temporary and long-term method services are provided free of charge by the government. He said the rate of contraceptive use is rising because of workers' efforts, campaigning and services delivered door to door.