THE EDITORIAL

Address,With advancing times, significant changes and attitudinal shift have beenobserved in both women’s and society’s thought about women’s equalityand emancipation. Women today have been successfully winning allbattles and climbing the ladder of success in diversified sectors each day.Saluting and celebrating the spirit of woman-hood, it gives us immensepleasure to bring to you the March edition of “THE PUMBA GAZETTE”dedicated to the woman of today : ‘T he tender, gentle and a flawlessleader.’In line with this, we bring to you an exclusive interview with Mrs. RoopaliTople (Criterium Inc., Pune) on clinical trials in India.

In view of the advancements in Intra Uterine Contraceptive Devices(IUCD), our students have undertaken a project with the aim to survey theawareness and usage pattern of IUCD in Pune city.It also includes a section on changing trends in advertisements focusingon women.We also bring to you one of the 12 part series on various noteworthy CSRinitiatives. The article titled ‘Back to Society’, covers the initiative by TATAChemicals for empowerment of women.To be abreast with the developments in the industry we have alsoincluded a section on BT News, and The PUMBA Gazette’s view point onthe same.A section based

on PUMBA and the happenings in and around the samehas also been included.Your Feedback & Suggestions are welcome atthepumbagazette@gmail.com

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body”

- Joseph AddisonSincerely Yours,

Chief Editior: Vijendra S. Agarwal, MBA-BT (Sem II)

(THE PUMBA GAZETTE Team)(The detailed project reports shall be provided on enquiry. Kindly send inyour enquiries atthepumbagazette@gmail.com)

Dr.(Capt.) C. M. Chitale,DEAN ,University Of Pune

CONTENTS

•

Cover story

--Calculative Contraception•

Articles/Analysis

--The Pink Shift•

Back to Society

--OKHAI Initiative by TATA Chemicals.•

BT News--

In support of trials – Truly Asia•

Candid Talk

--An Interview with Mrs. Roopali Tople

•PUMBA News

--International Conference on Global meltdown--PUMBA at BIOASIA Conference 2009

“

I am very happy to note that ‘The PUMBA GAZETTE’ Team is dedicating this issue to women.Women, in general, have to face challenges both at personal and professional levels to prove their mettle.It is observed that women are sincere and honest totheir responsibility and fulfil the job expectations.In fact, today women work at par with men and have proved to be equal or sometimes even better than themale force.My best wishes to all working women for their futureendeavours.”

Calculative Contraception

SSuur r vveeyyaabboouuttaawwaar r eenneessssaanndduussaaggeeppaatttteer r nnoof f IInnttr r aaUUtteer r iinnee CCoonnttr r aacceeppttiivveeDDeevviiccee((IIUUCCDD))iinnPPuunneecciittyy

In view of the International Women’s Day, a survey wasconducted with the aim to study the awareness and usage of IUCDs in Pune city. The target sample included 315 marriedwomen in the age group of 18 to 60 from various strata of society.Pune city was divided into six different zones & random samplingprocedure was used. 35 Gynaecologists from eminent hospitals inPune were also interviewed. The survey revealed that most of thewomen in Pune are aware of IUCDs but fall back on account of itsusage.IUCDs used in India are found to be of three basic types, Copper T (CuT), Multi load and hormone releasing devices. However there are variations of CuT like CuT 380A, CuT 200 etc. Thesurvey was aimed at finding out the devices which are usuallyrecommended by Gynaecologists and preferred by women. Itsobjective also included finding out the preferences of IUCDs over other measures of contraception like contraceptive pills, condoms(used by partner), surgical procedures & spermicidal creams.It was found that about 91% women were aware of IUCDs andtheir functions. The various sources of this awareness weredoctors, friends, relatives and media with the major source beingdoctors (Graph 1).Contraceptive pills were found to be more popular with women of age group 18-27 years and surgical procedures were preferred inthe age group of 38-47 years (Graph 4). However, both IUCDsand contraceptives are popular in age group 28-37 years, IUCDsranking higher than contraceptive pills (Graph 2).Among IUCD’s, Multiload was found to be negligibly used bywomen, the reason being its higher price in comparison to freelyavailable Copper T in government hospitals. However, it is highlyrecommended by doctors (Graph 3).The various contraceptive measures like contraceptive pills,condoms, IUCDs & surgical procedure are advised by doctors.The actual usage pattern among women was found to be asdepicted in Graph 2. Women prefer condoms over IUCDs andcontraceptive pills.The majority of doctors interviewed in the survey carried out 5-10IUCD procedures per month. Among the 35 doctors surveyed,50% agreed that some complications occur after installation andthe rest said otherwise.Few companies in India manufacture IUCDs (that too, onlyCopperT). Easy and affordable availability of Multiload willpopularize its usage, since doctors recommend it over CopperTdue to many aspects.

CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

1. Though a large percentage of women surveyed were aware of the IUCDs, few preferred using them.2. Women are reluctant to use IUCDs because of the doubts,apprehensions, lack of awareness and proper guidelinesregarding its use.

1911976020406080100120140160180200

N u m b e r o f w o m e n r e s p o n d e n t s

Doctors Media Friends &Relatives

Sources

Graph 1: Sources of awareness about IUCDs

Graph 2: Usage of various contraceptivemeasures among women

19.23%26.92%23.08%17.31%13.46%Contraceptive PillsCondomsIUCDsSurgical ProcedureNo usage

Graph 3: Recommendations for IUCDs bydoctors

38%3%11%48%CuTHormoneReleasingCuT 380AMultiload

0%20%40%60%80%100%

P r e f e r e n c e

C o n d o m s C o n t r a c e p t i v e p i l l s S u r g i c a l p r o c e d u r e s I U C D

Graph 4: Age group wise preferences for variouscontraceptives

48 & above38-4728-3718-27

3. The government should take more efforts to encourage usageof IUCDs as doctors feel they are safer, convenient and morereliable than the frequent medical termination of pregnancy andthe use of emergency contraceptive pills.4. The media (print media, electronic media, internet, radio, etc.)can be used to create awareness about the usage of IUCDs.5. More Indian manufacturers can enter the IUCD market, so thatthis potentially untapped market can be explored.

Compiled by:

Anagha Bhavale, Dipti Tayade , Dr. Nishith Tyagi ,Snigdha Sinha, Vandita Javali, Vishakha Shinde,MBA-BT (Sem II)