The percentage of men with a comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS fell marginally in the last decade, while the use of contraceptives declined by three per cent, the Centre's latest health survey has found.
According to the National Family Health Survey (NHFS-4), which carried out its latest study during 2015-16, the adaptation of family planning methods has registered a decline, compared to NHFS-3 conducted in 2005-06.
The latest survey has found out that the percentage of women with a comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS is 20.9, up from 17.3 during NHFS-3.
However, the percentage of men in this category is 32.3, down from 33 during the previous survey period.
The survey also found out that 77.4 per cent men were aware that consistent use of condoms can reduce the chances of getting HIV/AIDS, up from 70 per cent in the last survey, while the figures improved from 36.3 per cent to 54.9 per cent in case of women.
The use of contraceptives (all forms) declined from 56.3 per cent in NHFS-3 to 53.5 per cent in the latest survey. The use of modern methods also declined to 47.8 per cent from 48.5 per cent during the previous survey period.
However, the latest survey showed that the percentage of women using pills went up to 4.1 from the 3.1 during NHFS-3, while the percentage of men using condoms went up from 5.2 per cent to 5.6 per cent in NHFS-4.
The prevalence of female sterilisation also declined from 37.3 per cent earlier to 36 per cent in 2015-16, while male sterilisation declined to 0.3 per cent from one per cent in NHFS-3.
The NHFS-4 report, unveiled by the Union Health Ministry, collected information from six lakh households, seven lakh women and 1.3 lakh men, and for the first time, provided district-level estimates.
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