Young women opting for tubal sterilisation in rural India: reasons and implications

The proportion of the women using tubal sterilisation is increasing, while the age at sterilisation is dropping. This prospective cross-sectional study explores factors that influence the women in rural India to undergo tubal sterilisation at a young age. In this study, 109 married women seeking tubal sterilisation from a community health centre were interviewed. Information included baseline reproductive data, knowledge about different contraceptive methods, prior contraceptive use, and reasons for choosing tubal sterilisation and knowledge regarding its failure rate and complications. The majority (65.1%) of women were below 30 years of age, and 69.7% had > or = 3 children. Approximately one-third (37.6%) had > or = 1 induced abortions. Although 65% of all women were aware of one or more temporary contraceptive methods, 53.2% had never used these because of worries regarding complications. Three-quarters of the women lacked knowledge about failure rate and complications of tubal sterilisation, and only 2.8% thought about future regrets. In rural India, there is lack of information, and/or misinformation about temporary contraception, affecting contraceptive use by women. An unhurried counselling along with unbiased information about alternative contraceptives would help these women for appropriate resolution of their reproductive need.