Muzaffarpur: Julie, a 35-year-old resident of Keotsa Village in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, has been trapped in a cycle of unplanned pregnancies since 2008. With four children already in tow and grappling with the harsh truth of failure to support a growing family on her husband Neeraj Kumar Singh’s meagre laborer wages, the couple decided to opt for sterilization. Julie underwent sterilization at the government hospital in Gaighat in 2015, hoping to break free from the burdens of constant childbirth and financial strain.
Julie and her husband, Neeraj Kumar Singh
However, what was intended to bring stability to their lives turned into a nightmare. The sterilization procedure was botched, and subsequent medical treatments proved to be nothing short of ineffective. Julie has had two more children since then. She has been on a relentless nine-year pursuit for a solution, running from home to the hospital in desperation.
The family recently learned of yet another pregnancy, dealing a devastating blow that has pushed Julie into the throes of mental instability and robbed her of the will to carry on. Speaking to a media gathering she said: ‘There’s nobody to listen. I’m on the verge of giving up, contemplating ending not just my life but also my children’s.” The matter has now caught the attention of the local media.
Her husband, Neeraj Kumar Singh, sharing his anguish, stated, “In 2015, my wife underwent sterilization for the first time. However, in 2018, during a routine check-up, we were shocked to discover she was six months pregnant. Despite assurances from the civil surgeon that this wouldn’t recur, and receiving an injection meant to prevent pregnancy, she found herself pregnant again.”
Complaints to the civil surgeon responsible for the disastrous surgery have fallen on deaf ears. “Had the correct protocol been meticulously adhered to, the occurrence of such an anomaly would have been entirely preventable. Our medical facility conducts thousands of similar operations annually, and while instances of failure are rare, we acknowledge this unfortunate exception. The matter will be investigated, and the victims will be compensated as per government norms,” said the current Civil Surgeon.
The spiral of repeated medications, injections and pregnancies has taken a severe toll on Julie’s mental well-being.
“In our desperation for help, our children have gone without food for the past two days as we recently learned of yet another pregnancy. We are tirelessly seeking redressal, going from pillar to post, but our pleas seem to fall on deaf ears. The lack of response is disheartening, and we implore those in positions of authority to listen to our plight and provide the justice and assistance we so desperately need,” Neeraj added.
But it is not quite clear why despite repeated pregnancies, Neeraj didn’t himself opt for sterilisation or use alternative contraceptive methods available for men.
The challenges faced by women like Julie are exacerbated by the prevailing societal stigma against male sterilization in Bihar, mirroring sentiments across the nation. This lack of social acceptance places an undue burden on women, compelling them to shoulder the responsibilities of contraception and sterilization all alone. Findings from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) reveal a disheartening reality – attitudes towards male sterilization have witnessed minimal progress over the years. Half of men aged 15-49 in Bihar still cling to the outdated belief that contraception is solely a woman’s responsibility, absolving men from any involvement. Adding to the concern, 14 percent of men harbor the misguided notion that women using contraception may engage in promiscuous behavior. These entrenched beliefs and disparities in family planning responsibilities not only perpetuate gender inequalities but also pose a significant barrier to effective population control measures.
Amidst one of the highest Crude Birth Rates and Fertility Rates in India, the Bihar government has, at least in its public stance, emphasized the need for population control measures. State ministers have articulated a goal to reduce the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) from 3 to the national average of 2. Initiatives encompass promoting family planning, distributing free condoms, and encouraging sterilization.
Data from the National Family Health Survey reveals a notable alignment with this objective among the people of Bihar. The survey underscores that 55 percent of women and two-thirds (66%) of men, consider the ideal family size to be two or fewer children.
These statistics highlight the potential for informed and targeted interventions to align with the preferences and aspirations of the people, contributing to effective population control measures in Bihar.
And yet in Bihar, unplanned pregnancies continue to be common. If all women were to have only the number of children they wanted, the total fertility rate would have been 2.3 children per woman instead of the current level of 3.0 children per woman. This statistical insight underscores a significant unmet need for Family Planning, perpetuating a cycle of poverty for many families and hindering the state from reaching its stated demographic goals.
