Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Priyanka Grover and Nikhil Batra, Medical student. Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Near Delhi Gate, Delhi-110009, India, 00919811194934, dr_priyanka_grover@yahoo.com

Method: Two samples A and B each of 500 young females were selected. (A)represents lower socio-economic strata from, an Urban slum in and(B)represents higher socio-economic strata from, an affluent colony. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to interview them.Result: 54 %( of A) and 12% (of B) didn't go for antenatal care due to tradition. 39% of the females (of A and B) took special kind of diet during pregnancy due to certain myths, like butter intake during pregnancy facilitates smooth delivery, and white foods (e.g. milk) make the baby fair, are equally prevalent in both samples. 18 %( of A and B) know of any herb which makes women deliver a boy. 34% of A and 9% of B, think that vaccination is not important during pregnancy. 63% of B and 35% of A do fasting due to various beliefs during pregnancy. 41% (of A) and 12% (of B), believe that if a couple is unable to bear children they should not go to a doctor, instead approach any god man/saint. 62%, of sample A and 21% of sample B think contraceptives are not required during lactation. Conclusion: Myths existent in sample A and Sample are qualitatively and quantitatively different. A negative correlation is seen between level of education and myths, and this has significant impact in terms of adequate achievement of health care. Dispelling these myths through awareness programs is warranted to improve attainment of health care.

Learning Objectives:

• The presentation aims to make the audience aware of negative correlation between pregnancy and contraception related myths and their impact on health care attainment amongst young women.

Keywords: Asian Women, Contraception

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered