Morbidity Pattern Amongst Women of Reproductive Age Group (15-44 Years) Residing in Rural and Urban Field Practice Areas of Government Medical College, Amritsar: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Health of a woman in the family is far more important because whole family revolves around her.Any deviation from the state of normal physical, mental and social well being is morbidity and the morbidity inwomen at any stage of the life cycle , more so during reproductive age group, adversely affects the quality of life ofher own as well as that of whole family. It creates hinderances in the overall development at the individual leveland that of the nation as well.Objectives: To assess the morbidity pattern of women in reproductive age group (15-44 years).Material and methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted on the females of reproductive age group (15-44years) in rural and urban field practice areas of Government Medical College, Amritsar from 1st March 2021 to28th Feb. 2022. Sample size was calculated using formula N ≥ Z 2 × P × (1-P) / d2 . A pre-tested, semi structuredquestionnaire was used for collection of the required data.Participants: All females in the age group of 15-44 years who gave a consent to participate in the study wereselected. Any female with any congenital disease / malformation / intellectual disability, pregnant female andfemales who failed to give written informed consent / not willing for participation in the study were excluded.Results: Out of 330 study participants, 146 (44.2%) had one or more types of morbidities at the time ofstudy. The majority (95%) of these morbidities were chronic in nature while a small proportion i.e. 5% were acute.The system involved in multiple morbidities was reproductive and gynaecological system in majority (43.8%) ofstudy participants which was followed by cardiovascular system (9.6%), musculoskeletal system (9.3%), centralnervous system (4.2%), metabolic, ENT and urinary system (3.9% each), gastrointestinal system (3.3%), skin (2.4%)and respiratory system (2.1%).Conclusions: The pattern of morbidity in females of reproductive age group turned out to be Reproductive andGynecological inclusive of menstrual disturbances, PID, fibroid, RTIs, STIs, vaginal discharge etc. followed bycardiovascular system (9.6%), musculoskeletal system (9.3%), central nervous system (4.2%), metabolic, ENT andurinary system (3.9% each), gastrointestinal system (3.3%), skin (2.4%) and respiratory system (2.1%).