Over the past several decades, India has taken important steps to support women’s sexual and reproductive health. India was the first country in the world to launch a family planning program in 1952 and one of the first few to legalise abortion in 1971. Yet today, millions of Indian women still lack access to quality sexual and reproductive health services.
This challenge is acute for family planning and abortion in the case of unintended pregnancy, two key sexual and reproductive health interventions. For example, two-thirds of married women in India between 15-49 years want family planning, which allows couples and families to attain their desired family size through use of contraceptive methods. However, up to 30% lack access. Similarly, abortion is completely safe when administered by a registered medical provider and legal under certain conditions. However, many women turn to unsafe methods of terminating their pregnancies, leading to approximately 10 deaths every day.