Vol. 16, Issue 1, Jul-Dec 2023

Page: 1-13

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROBLEMS AND TREATMENT SEEKING BEHAVIOR OF RURAL WOMEN IN PALAKKAD DISTRICT KERALA

Anas M.K, Muhammed Ashraf T.M

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Accepted Date:

Published Date:

This study examines the Reproductive health problems and treatment seeking behavior of rural women in Palakkad district of Kerala. A sample of 60 eligible women in 15-44 years who had at least one living child randomly selected in three blocks of rural areas of Palakkad district Kerala were interviewed. Reproductive health problems and treatment seeking behavior is assessed by considering Reproductive Tract Infections/Sexually Transmitted Infections, Prolapse of Uterus, Menstrual disorders, Acute pelvic inflammatory disease(PID), Dyspareunia, Infertility, Anaemia, Urinary Tract Infection and Contraceptive side effects (Sterilisation/IUD/Pills) and treatment or care seeks and places for treatment for the reproductive health problems .Majority (56 percent) of women had a medium level of standard of living, no women are married before getting the legal age of marriage ie 18 years ,majority of women respondents age of marriage is 18-20 years. Nuclear family system is prominent as 70 percent of the respondents have nuclear family system. Majority (96 percent) of the women went either to Government hospital or to private hospital for treatment and the rest took either home remedy or Ayurvedic/Homeopathic/local indigenous medicines (each 2 percent).Out of 46 women who experienced any reproductive health problem, 30 percent of women had not taken treatment. Among them, twenty-one percent of the women felt that the treatment is too expensive and not affordable. For 19 percent of women their husbands not permitted them to go for treatment. Reproductive health problems is a common health problem among women and represents serious threat to their health and wellbeing

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