Patna: The health department has started installing condom boxes at primary health centres (PHCs), additional PHCs, health sub-centres and other government health facilities to check population growth.

The boxes would be installed in such a fashion so that people don't feel shy while taking out the condoms, which are available for free.

A woman in Bihar has 3.3 children on average, according to the recent Sample Registration Survey (SRS) .

"The condom boxes have to be installed in all government health facilities in 37 districts except Patna as all other 37 districts happen to be high-fertility districts," said Mohammad Sajjad Ahmad, programme officer, State Health Society.

Condom boxes have been installed in 15 districts so far. "We are getting them installed mainly near the washrooms," Ahmad added.

Earlier condoms were available at government health facilities but people were supposed to collect it from specific counters. The programme was not very successful as people used to feel shy to collect the condoms.

ASHAworkers used to also distribute condoms, but it was tough for the female workers to convince a man to use condoms. "We hope for a better response from the boxes," said a health department official.