Patna : The Bihar state government has identified 13 districts as high-priority areas in its ongoing effort to stabilise the population and reduce the total fertility rate (TFR).
The state’s Health Department announced that Araria, Begusarai, Motihari, Katihar, Khagaria, Purnia, Saharsa, Sitamarhi, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Jehanabad, Madhubani and Vaishali would be the focus of intensified family planning efforts. Officials have directed all health units, from sub-centres to urban primary health centres and wellness centres, to strictly implement the use of permanent and modern contraceptive methods.
The initiative aims to bring districts currently lagging behind up to the state average. According to government figures, the usage rate of the Antara injectable contraceptive stands at 0.8%, while postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) usage is around 21%. In addition, 70% of health centres meet reporting standards under the Family Planning Logistics Management Information System.
Special family planning campaigns are conducted four times a year to raise awareness among eligible couples about contraceptive options. The campaigns are part of the government’s broader strategy to increase the uptake of modern family planning methods across the state.
Among temporary methods, the Antara injection has seen the highest adoption. In the 2024-25 period, between 650,000 and 700,000 doses were administered. Copper-T devices ranked second, with approximately 350,000 women opting for the method.
Health officials have emphasised that achieving demographic stability will require consistent efforts at both the community and institutional levels.
