Effective contraceptive methods and sterilization in India: some results on socio-demographic differentials

This paper is concerned with the socio-demographic differentials on effective contraceptive methods and sterilization in India with respect to 5 year age-groups, place of residence, highest level of education, wealth index, religion, caste, current marital status and occupation using the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data, 2019–21. Results reveal that the percentage of currently married men and women using effective contraceptive methods is found to be considerably larger in younger age- groups, urban areas, higher education, richest wealth index, Sikh Community, General caste, married couples and Professional/Technical/Managerial occupational group in addition to little bit variation in other contraceptive methods. The lower percentage of female sterilization with mean marital duration and mean parity is also accompanied by these groups except Sikh Community and married couples. Median age of the married women at their sterilization during end of reproductive period is ascertained to be less than 30 years in all categories.