It is important to understand the social, physical, and administrative environment in which the grassroots components of a health program function and provide services.

Contraception as a behavioral phenomenon has been the focus of many population researches, during the last half a century. In fact, explaining contraceptive behavior is a complex theoretical effort. Learning, motivation,

One of the purposes of family planning programmes in developing countries is to provide for the unmet needs of couples for contraception.

In the year 1950, injectable contraceptives were developed (containing only progestin). For the treatment of endometriosis and endometrial cancer as well as of painful menstrual periods, (dysmenorrhoea), excessive hair growth (hirsutism), and bleeding disorders, progestins were finally used.

There can be little doubt that the last two hundred years have seen advances in health which have seldom before been witnessed in human history.

There can be little doubt that the last two hundred years have seen advances in health which have seldom before been witnessed in human history.

Acceptance and sustained use of family planning especially of modern spacing methods have generally been low in developing countries particularly in India. The use rate for modern spacing methods was only 6 per cent among the eligible couples in India in 1992 (IIPS, 1995).

A woman would prefer to prevent an unwanted pregnancy rather than having an abortion or carrying the pregnancy to term. No amount of legal or religious restrictions, social stigma or lack of access to professional care can stop her if she decides to seek termination of an unplanned pregnancy.

The paper uses the National Family Health Survey (NFHS, 1992-93) data to examine the extent to which sex preferences have constrained the success of the family planning programme and inhibited the acceptance of contraception in the different states of the country.

With the introduction of female condoms that can be used exclusively by women at the time of intercourse, the conventional latex condom, which is worn over the penis, can now be termed as the male condom.