For World Contraception Day, we spoke with Mansharan Seth, (Director, William J. Clinton Foundation; WomenLift Health Leadership Journey Alumna, India ’23). In Part 2 of this two-part blog series, we explore how modern contraception is transforming gender equity and women’s empowerment in India. We also look at the role of digital innovations in revolutionizing contraceptive access and the next steps in advancing sexual and reproductive health.
Edited excerpts below:
How do you see the correlation between gender equity, women’s empowerment, and contraceptive use? In what ways does access to contraception empower women?
Contraceptive access and gender equity are deeply intertwined, and it’s important to look at this through an economic lens in addition to empowerment. Here’s some context: the female labour force participation rate in India stands at 37%, compared to 79% for men—an enormous 43% drop. This gap speaks to the broader economic implications of women’s empowerment and access to contraception.
The Willam J Clinton Foundation (WJCF) recently concluded a piece of analysis to determine the economic impact of delaying and spacing childbirths, and some preliminary findings are worth sharing. For instance, if all women who currently have their first child within three years of marriage delayed childbirth to three to four years post-marriage, we could see an additional 386,000 women entering the workforce every year. This would add over $500 million to the GDP in a single year. Over a decade, that translates into 3.8 million more women in the workforce.
Interventions that promote delaying and spacing childbirths not only increase the use of modern contraceptive methods, but also boost labour force participation, increase women’s share of managerial positions, improve female bank account ownership, and reduce the likelihood of experiencing spousal violence. Access to contraception allows women to plan their fertility, which directly influences their ability to plan their lives, careers, and finances. This can result in transformative changes for women, with significant impacts on both their economic empowerment and health, as well as the health of their children.
We need to shift the dialogue away from contraception solely being about family planning or controlling population size. The responsibility lies with us to move this conversation forward—to recognize the role of contraception in empowering women and contributing to the country’s GDP. It’s time to align our approach to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) with a focus on women’s agency, economic participation, and broader health outcomes for both women and their families.
What do you believe is going to revolutionize contraceptive access and utilization in the coming years?
The role of digital channels in revolutionizing contraceptive access and utilization is going to be significant in the coming years, especially given the demographics in India. The way people access information and products is already changing and platforms like Blinkit and Zepto (quick commerce delivery platforms in India) are driving shifts in purchasing behaviour, particularly for condoms. We’re likely to see more unconventional platforms emerge, making contraceptive access easier and more convenient.
For example, platforms such as Urban Company (an Indian platform offering at-home services) could potentially offer at-home service delivery for injectables, implants, and IUDs. As AI continues to evolve, we can also expect technology to deliver personalized and relevant information about sexual and reproductive health. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, technology could tailor information to individuals based on their needs and life stage.
Imagine the possibilities: information at your fingertips, product purchases just a click away, and maybe even at-home services for contraceptives. This is the kind of innovation that could truly transform the way we think about and access contraceptives.
What do you see as the next frontier in sexual and reproductive health in India, and how do you envision your role in it?
India is currently amid a very positive product introduction of two new methods of contraception – Implants as well as DMPA-SC (subcutaneous injectables) and this is an opportunity for us to make significant strides, in both the public and private sector. As the SRH team at WJCF, we are currently working on developing digitized and self-paced training modules for last-mile service providers, end-to-end supply chains, and product strategies to make affordable products available widely, developing a total market approach to support product availability as well as user awareness and demand generation. It’s an exciting time and we are working with many ecosystem partners to further this agenda.
Read Part 1 of this two-part blog series here. WomenLift Health’s flagship India Leadership Journey is a leadership development experience designed to enhance the power and influence of emerging women leaders tackling complex public health challenges in the country. We are currently accepting applications for the forthcoming 2025 India Leadership Journey until October 25, 2024.
