98% women, only 2% men opt for sterilisation in 20-day drive in Bihar
Bihar’s Family Planning Campaign Reveals Gender Imbalance in Sterilisation Choices
Bharatmorningnews.com – During a twenty-day sterilisation initiative that ran from July 11 through July 31, state health authorities reported that merely two percent of the 15,033 individuals who underwent the procedure were male. This campaign, launched alongside World Population Day celebrations, underscores how women still carry the predominant responsibility for permanent contraception in Bihar, even though vasectomy represents a comparatively straightforward and minimally invasive option for men.
Fertility Trends and Campaign Results
Government statistics indicate that female sterilisations totalled 14,728 throughout the drive, while male procedures numbered just 305. Consequently, women shouldered approximately ninety-eight percent of the permanent contraceptive burden during this period.
Bihar has consistently ranked among India’s lowest performers regarding male sterilisation uptake. Vasectomies constitute only a marginal portion of all sterilisation procedures performed in the state, despite Bihar maintaining one of the nation’s highest fertility rates. The total fertility rate has gradually decreased from 3.4 during the NFHS-4 survey (2015-16) to 3.0 according to NFHS-5 (2019-21). However, the most recent Sample Registration System data for 2024 places Bihar’s TFR at 2.9 children per woman, substantially exceeding the national average of 1.9.
District-Level Performance
Patna distinguished itself as the leading district for female sterilisation with 1,210 procedures completed. West Champaran followed with 820 operations, while Vaishali recorded 809, East Champaran achieved 752, and Gaya completed 702 procedures.
Regarding male sterilisation, Vaishali and Siwan emerged as joint leaders, each conducting 52 procedures and becoming the sole districts to surpass fifty operations. Aurangabad secured third place with 27 procedures, while Begusarai and Patna tied for fourth position with 21 procedures apiece.
Nevertheless, male participation remained notably low across numerous regions. Samastipur, Araria, Banka, Darbhanga, and Muzaffarpur reported zero male sterilisation procedures during the campaign. Meanwhile, Munger, Purnia, Supaul, Jamui, and Sheohar each recorded only a single procedure.
Among female sterilisations, several districts demonstrated comparatively weaker performance. Jamui completed 108 procedures, Jehanabad achieved 124, Munger recorded 132, Darbhanga reached 155, Sheohar attained 169, and Arwal completed 177 procedures.
Expert Perspectives on the Campaign
Dr Vivek Kumar Singh, district programme manager at the District Health Society in Patna, attributed the campaign’s success to coordinated efforts across multiple levels.
This achievement reflects the dedicated efforts of our healthcare workers, programme managers and field teams, along with the support of the community. We will continue to strengthen awareness and counselling activities to improve male participation in family planning and ensure equitable responsibility among couples.
Health officials characterized the overall campaign performance as promising but stressed that continued efforts would be necessary. They emphasized that sustained awareness initiatives, myth-busting campaigns, enhanced counselling services, and deeper community engagement would prove vital for increasing male sterilisation acceptance and encouraging shared contraceptive responsibility between partners.
Professor Gyanendra Yadav from the sociology department at Patliputra University’s College of Commerce, Arts & Science identified several persistent barriers preventing greater male participation.
Deep-rooted social stigma, misconceptions linking vasectomy with loss of masculinity or physical strength, limited awareness, gender norms that place the burden of contraception on women, and inadequate counselling continue to discourage men from opting for sterilisation, particularly in rural areas.
Professor Yadav noted that women’s higher sterilisation participation also signals increasing empowerment and expanded roles in household decision-making. He explained that women traditionally bear primary responsibility for childbirth and childcare, and larger families intensify their physical, mental, and economic burdens. With improved awareness and decision-making capacity, more women are selecting sterilisation despite the government providing higher monetary incentives for male procedures.
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 98 women only 2 men opt?
98 women only 2 men opt is the main topic of this guide. The article explains the context, practical details, and next steps readers should understand.
Why does 98 women only 2 men opt matter?
98 women only 2 men opt matters because readers are looking for a useful answer, not just a short summary. Good content should match search intent and help them decide what to do next.