Timing of Initiation of Contraceptives in Extended Postpartum Period Among Indian Women

Maternal health issue is a major global concern since pregnancy and childbirth are the leading causes of death, disease, and disability among women in their reproductive period. This concern is also well acknowledged in the fifth millennium development goal (MDG) that aims to reduce infant deaths and improve maternal health while providing universal access to sexual and reproductive health services by 2015. Contraception in postpartum period plays an essential role to prevent unwanted pregnancy and to reduce the risk of infant and maternal mortality by optimal birth intervals. Thus it calls for an investigation about the patterns and determinants of timing of postpartum contraceptive use among women. The present study is directed towards investigating the timing of contraceptive initiation among Indian women in extended postpartum period, a period which is different from other periods with regard to menstrual pattern and sexual behavior of women. Survival plots and hazard model techniques are employed to analyze the time variable with respect to various characteristics of women. The main finding obtained using the data of National Family Health Survey- III clearly demonstrate the lack of motivation among Indian women, whether amenorrheic or menstruating, about initiating modern contraceptives in this period.