National Family Health Survey: Women have more sex partners then men in 11 States/UTs

Indian women on an average have more sex partners than men, reveals study. In fact, women had multiple sexual partners than men in their lifetime, the survey data showed.

The survey was conducted in 11 states and UTs. These states and UTs are Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu.

Even as women have more sexual partners, but the study revealed that 4% men had sexual intercourse with women who was neither their spouse or live-in partner. This is much higher than that of women at 0.5 per cent.

The survey was conducted among 1.1 lakh women and 1 lakh men by the National Family Health Survey. The survey shows that the number of sex partner on average was higher for women as compared to men in these 11 states and UTs.

Urban women on average have 1.5 sexual partners in their lifetime, as compared to men. The number goes higher for both genders in rural areas. Compared to other states, Rajasthan had the highest number of women who had on an average 3.1 sex partners as against the 1.8 per cent for men.

The National Family Health Survey-5 conducted during 2019-21 surveyed 707 districts of the country from 28 States and eight UTs. The national report also provides data by socio-economic and other background characteristics, useful for policy formulation and effective programme implementation.

The survey was conducted to assess the risk of HIV-AIDS among people having multiple sexual partners.