Birth control is an important topic for any society, yet it is one that Indians find difficult to talk about openly. There are many reasons for this, including religious beliefs, cultural norms and traditional values.
In India, there is a lot of stigma and taboo around birth control. This is mainly because of the country's conservative values and the belief that large families are a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Despite being a huge necessity and need for the country's growing population, Indians, especially males, are not comfortable with women taking birth control. There are various reasons why birth control in India comes with so many stereotypes including judgements from the society.
Some of the main reasons why Indians are shy about talking about birth control include:
1) The belief that large families are a symbol of wealth and prosperity: In India, having a large family is considered to be a sign of wealth and status. This is because in traditional Indian households, the more children you have, the more hands you have to help with chores and work. Additionally, in rural areas, having a lot of children is seen as a form of insurance, in case one or more of them die.
2) The fear of judgement from others: Indians are often very conscious about what other people think of them. This means that they are hesitant to talk about topics like birth control, which can be seen as taboo. In a society where premarital sex is frowned upon and abortion is considered to be shameful, it is no surprise that people are shy about discussing birth control.
3) Lack of access to information: In India, there is a lack proper information about birth control methods. This is because of the country's conservative attitudes towards sex. As a result, there is a lack of awareness regarding different birth control methods and how to access them in India.
4) The idea that taking birth control pills affects a woman's chances of getting pregnant: In India, taking birth control pills means that you will not be able to have children later on in life. This myth continues to exist even though scientists have found no evidence to support it.
In addition, many Indian women still believe in the rhythm method for contraception where they avoid having sex at certain times during their menstrual cycle when they are more likely to get pregnant. This is despite the fact that neither rhythm nor other natural methods for preventing pregnancy are reliable or healthy.
So what can be done to improve this situation?
The government must increase access to information about birth control in India, especially online. In addition, there needs to be a focus on improving the educational curriculum in the country so that young people have a proper understanding of sexual health and behaviour. Finally, with a growing economy and changing attitudes towards sex in society, more women are going out to work and being financially independent which means they will have more money to spend on contraception. This is why it will be important for companies that provide contraceptives such as condoms to market themselves through modern platforms like social media which can reach this younger demographic effectively.
In conclusion, despite being necessary for the growth of any population, talking about birth control has been stigmatised in India due to factors such as religion, culture and tradition. This has resulted in a reluctance among the population to discuss it openly, although things are slowly changing. The government, educators and private companies must work together to ensure that all Indians have access to birth control information and products so that the country can handle its burgeoning population in a more sustainable manner.
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