The Determinants of the Reproductive Health of Women of Tai-Aiton Community of Assam

Abstract

Reproductive Health is one of the significant issues today as it is a pivotal part of general health. Reproductive health was defined in International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) as “the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes”(ICPD Programme of Action, paragraph 7.2). Worldwide maternal deaths fell by almost 44 percent from 1990 to 2015, but about 830 mothers still die daily in delivery cases or as a result of pregnancy or post partum causes. The health status of tribal women is very poor (Ramana, 2015). The Tai-Aitons are a recognizable scheduled tribe of Assam having their own distinctive culture and tradition. They have been recognized as Scheduled Tribes (Hills) and are listed as Man-Tai Speaking people by the Government of Assam. No specific data about the total population of the Tai-Aitons are available. Though data are not accessible, but various studies exhibit that population of Tai-Aitons is very less. There are number of factors which may influence the reproductive health of the above mentioned women of Tai-aiton community. So, the basic objective of this study is to find out and analyze the main determinants of the reproductive health of women of Tai-Aiton community of Assam. Data is collected from two development blocks of Karbi-Anglong district and one development block of Golaghat district (total 210 households) based on the data of Man-Tai Speaking National Council, Assam, Population Cum Education Census (2006). The data related to this study are collected from August 2019 to October 2019. In order to examine the influence of socio-economic and demographic factors on the reproductive health of the sample women, Multiple Linear Regression analysis has been carried out where value of Reproductive Health Index is taken as dependent variable. The result of the study find out that live birth ever born, education of women, distance to PHCs, occupation of husbands, age at birth of the females and infant mortality affect significantly and occupation of women, monthly income, exposure to mass media and birth interval does not significantly affect the reproductive health of the Tai-Aiton women of Assam. Thus, ensuring a better reproductive health of the women, it is mandatory to improve education among girls particularly beyond high school in tribal areas because education impacts upon the health status particularly the reproductive health status of women. In tribal areas, the Integrated Maternal and Child Health programme may also play an important role in improving the education level mostly take an important step to make aware of the tribal women about their health particularly their nutrition level.