Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: July-Sep | Volume: 2 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 48-54
Self-Reported Reproductive Morbidities & Treatment Seeking Behavior among Married Women
Geeta Bhardwaj1, Suchitra Yadav2, Veena Verma2, Vijayluxmi Singh2, Sonam Yadav2
1Demonstrator, 2B.Sc. Nursing Student,
Nursing College, UPUMS, Uttar Pradesh, India
Corresponding Author: Geeta Bhardwaj
ABSTRACT
Generally, women with self-reported symptoms of reproductive morbidity do not seek treatment due to existing taboos and inhibitions regarding sexual and reproductive health. In developing countries, women are high risk for several reproductive health problems especially reproductive tract infection/sexual transmitted infection (RTI/STI). Health seeking behavior or treatment seeking behavior depend upon the perceptions of individual and they may neglect and do not seek treatment for their problem. Though there has been increasing concern over the general health and mortality status of women in India but still much attention is required to the morbidity among women.
Objectives- to describe the self-reported reproductive morbidities among married women and to observe the treatment seeking behavior related to reproductive morbidities among married women.
Methodology- A quantitative approach with Non-experimental descriptive research design was used. Non- randomized convenient sampling technique was used to select 180 subjects. Data was collected from 180 non-randomized selected samples, using semi structured questionnaire about their self-reported reproductive morbidities and treatment seeking behavior by interview method from home to home visit.
Result- Study findings say, many women had more than 1 problem. In menstruation morbidities 65 (36.12%) women had mild pain and 46(25.56%) women have scanty bleeding less than 3days. In RTI morbidities, 82(45.56%) women suffering from abnormal vaginal discharge/white discharge and lower abdominal pain 56(31.12%). In gynaecological morbidities, women suffer from swelling or lump in breast and 5(2.78%) women have heavy bleeding. For all types of reproductive morbidities majority of women prefer allopathic treatment and ayurvedic treatment. Approx. 80% of women preferred allopathic treatment in their reproductive morbidities.
Conclusion- Women have self-reported RTI and menstrual problem more than gynecological reproductive morbidities and majority of the women preferred allopathic treatment only when they had serious reproductive morbidities. Women need to be screened for RTIs and menstrual problem to prevent seriousness of problem. They must be encouraged for routine checkups. Well women health camps can be organized monthly for women. Majority had backache. Exercise should be taught to strengthen back muscles and lower backache.
Keywords: Reproductive, Morbidity, Self Reported, Gynecology, Menstrual, Allopathic, Homeopathic.