Morbidity pattern and health seeking behavior of women in reproductive age in slums of Amritsar city (Punjab), India

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Millennium development goal 5 is focused on reducing maternal mortality and achieving access to reproductive health care. Though India has made efforts to increase access to reproductive health care, the progress has been uneven and inequitable. There are a large number of women who still lack access to maternal and reproductive health care. 1 It is suggested that disadvantaged group should be identified because of their vulnerability as a first step to decrease inequity. 2 According to Census 2011, 65.4 million people are living in slums in India whereas the figure was 45 million during 2001 census. 3 Health of these slum dwellers is considerably worse off than the urban middle and high income groups. There are thousands of easily preventable maternal deaths each year. Though the accessibility to health facility is not a major issue, the prevalence of age old practices, lack of perceived need for antenatal care, fear of hospital, impolite behaviour of the hospital staff towards slum dwellers and economic constraints are a major deterrent. Late recognition of complications and delay in seeking medical help are also responsible for maternal morbidity and mortality. Women go to hospital or to a health worker only when there is an obvious problem. 4 But, efforts have not been made in Punjab especially Amritsar ABSTRACT Background: Though India has made efforts to increase access to reproductive health care, the progress has been uneven and inequitable. There are a large number of women who still lack access to maternal and reproductive health care. The study was hence conducted with the objective of observing morbidity pattern and health seeking behavior of women in reproductive age in slums of Amritsar city. Methods: By adopting convenience sampling, 50 clusters of married women in 15-45 year of age, from different slums of Amritsar city were included in the study. They were interviewed by using pre-designed, pre-tested proforma. Data was compiled and analyzed. Results: It was observed that 53.1% women had one or more health problems. Pregnant women were 1.68 times more likely to have health problems in comparison to non-pregnant women (OR=1.68, CI = 1.07-2.65, P = 0.03) and the difference was statistically significant. But, only 25.2% women sought treatment for their health problems and 19.3% women took treatment from qualified health practitioner. Availability of ration card for their identity, their caste, type of family, literacy status of women and their socioeconomic status were significant factors affecting treatment seeking behavior of women. Conclusions: Though a large number of women in reproductive age had one or more health problems, only few of them took treatment from qualified practitioners. Attention needs to be paid to significant factors affecting their health seeking behavior so that health of women could be improved.