Daily Times

KARACHI: The use of birth control products witnessed an increase in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) by 43.7% and 2.9%, respectively for 2014-15 compared with 2013-14, according to a contraceptive performance report prepared by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) for 2014-15.

According to the PBS, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has failed to control population growth in the province as the use of contraceptives in the province declined by 10.2 percent in the year 2014-15.

Likewise, the Punjab government has also failed to control population growth rate owing to the shortage of technical staff – family welfare councilors/workers and women medical officers – coupled with some other factors like engagement of staff in refresher training; low clientage due to severe weather conditions, heavy rains and shifting of family welfare centres. In Punjab, the Couple Year of Protection (CYP) decreased significantly by 13.4 percent. Therefore, instead of improving, the use of contraceptives throughout Pakistan has significantly decreased by 7.2 percent.

However, only the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) consumed birth control products considerably in the year 2014-15 compared to the previous year. The CYP is the protection provided by four contraceptive methods during one-year period, based upon the volume of all contraceptives sold or distributed to clients during that period.

The use of contraceptives had decreased in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, KP, Gilgit Biltistan, Balochistan, and Islamabad. The province-wise profile of CYP indicates a decrease in Sindh and Balochistan comparatively low to 2.2 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively. The report explores the usage of contraceptives provided in the market by government and private outlets.

As per the report, significant decrease in progress of Punjab for 2014-15 over 2013-14 is due to shortage of technical staff. Significant increase in progress of AJK for 2014-15 over 2013-14 is due to availability of medicines and increased frequency of mobile camping.

Significant decrease in progress of GB during 2014-15 as compared to 2013-14 is due to shortage of contraceptive (Norigest) and poor performance (low sale of contraceptives) of male mobilisers and declined progress of MSU component. As far as the district Islamabad and Gilgit Baltistan are concerned, the contraceptive performance for the year 2014-15 compared with year 2013-14 has depicted a decrease of 0.1% and 19.4%, respectively.

Pakistan population is projected to increase to over 227 million by 2025. It is well-established fact that other than oil rich economies, no country can prosperous without a radical reduction in its population growth rate. Though, reduction in population growth is one of the top priorities of the government of Pakistan to maintain balance between country’s resources and population. However, according to the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2014-15, Pakistan is still lagging behind other neighbouring countries in all family planning indicators – TFR, CPR, PGR and MMR – except Afghanistan.

In this context, family planning programmes can contribute significantly as there is negative correlation between the total fertility rate (TFR) and the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR). The decline in the TFR could be more substantial if there is greater use of contraceptives in the country. Use of contraceptives can be increased through female literacy, role of women in decision making, awareness through media and easy access to contraceptive techniques and tools, the PBS suggested.