STUDY ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCES OF WORKING WOMEN

Abstract

ISEE-167 Introduction: Women’s health and wellbeing are desirable not only for the women themselves, but also for future generations. It is estimated that 40–50% of infant mortality occurs during the first month of life, the majority being in the first week of life. The decline in peri-natal mortality is to a great extent dependent on the health of the women not only during pregnancy but long before that too, ie. form childhood through adolescence and on the quality of care received during the pregnancy and delivery, and the care given to the newborn. Therefore, to improve the health status of women and children, the health care services should include reproductive health care, such as adolescent health. Methods: This study was conducted to assess the reproductive performances of working women in Kerala, India. This is a descriptive, non-comparative study conducted in the immunization clinic and paediatric outpatient department of Pariyaram Medical College, Kannur. The present study was conducted among 200 working women who had come for immunizing their children or for paediatric consultation to the hospital and was conducted over a period of six months. A well designed, pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the study group. Detailed general information regarding age, education, occupation, income, religion, marital status etc. was recorded. Reproductive performances were asked in detail. It includes family planning measures adopted, type of ANC received, where ANC taken, who provided etc. Results: Among the studied population, more than 60% were below the age of 30 years. Only 1% was above the age of 45 years. It was observed that 3% of the women were separated and 1% were widowed. About 30% of them were educated up to pre-degree level and 57% were skilled workers. In the present study, it was observed that 13% of women were working for more than 11 hours every day. Of the 200 individuals studied 20% were currently pregnant, 28% were lactating and 25% were using family planning methods. Most (78%) had not used any family planning measure, previously. It was observed the 100% of women interviewed had had antenatal check ups at least once, and 93% had had 3 antenatal check ups. About 34% received ANC from primary health centres and 31% from medical college hospitals. It was observed that 81% received ANC from obstetricians and only 19% from doctors. There was no home delivery and 74% had normal vaginal delivery. In the current study it was observed that 25% had had at least one medical termination of pregnancy. Discussion: The Government of India has made several efforts to improve the health of women and children by strengthening the infrastructure facilities and training components during the eighth plan. The family welfare services provided more holistic and integrated services in the form of the Child Survival and Safe Motherhood programme which was initiated in the eighth plan and now India’s Family Welfare programme is moving towards reproductive and child health approach.