A comparison of 1970 and 1980 survey findings on family planning in India.

This report compares the findings of two national sample surveys and highlights changes in the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of family planning among Indian couples during 1970-1980. No significant change in desired family size during this period is indicated, but awareness about various contraceptives increased and more people had a favorable attitude toward family planning by 1980. However, about 45 percent of all couples who participated in the 1980 survey were unfamiliar with sterilization as a family planning method. About 60 percent did not know how to use condoms. The corresponding percentages for IUDs and the pill were even higher--about 80 percent in each case. Nevertheless, use of modern contraceptives increased from 10 percent in 1970 to 28 percent in 1980. The proportion of couples depending on traditional methods, primarily rhythm, was substantial and increased from 4 percent in 1970 to 7 percent in 1980. Sterilization remained the most popular modern method, followed by condoms. It was also found that current contraceptive users belonged to a relatively better socioeconomic group than those couples who did not want any additional children yet were not practicing contraception, characterized by a higher literacy level, more exposure to mass media, and better communication between spouses.