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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

S. Sudha, PhD, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 228 Stone Building, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, 336-256-0269, s_shreen@uncg.edu and Sharon Morrison, PhD, MSPH, Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 437HHP Bldg, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170.

Our paper examines factors associated with currently married women's self-reports of reproductive health problems and their treatment seeking behaviors. These factors include women's individual position (education and work participation), their family socioeconomic status (caste, husband's education and work status, and household standard of living), and their societal position (women's experience of and attitudes toward violence, and measures of their autonomy). We also include indicators of health service provision and health education. We test the hypothesis that women's autonomy, and experiences of and attitudes toward domestic violence, will increase reporting of reproductive health problems, i.e. reproductive tract infection (RTI) symptoms, and increase treatment seeking. Our study is set in Northern India which is characterized by lower female education, lower paid work participation, and limited women's autonomy. There is also an existing “culture of silence” surrounding reproductive health issues. Women in this region experience high rates of symptoms that could indicate serious RTIs but a substantial proportion fail to seek treatment. We review data from India's second National Family Health Survey (1998-99) on currently married women and use logistic regression models to examine the likelihood of 1) women reporting 2 or more RTI symptoms and 2) among women reporting symptoms, the likelihood of seeking treatment. Our findings are consistent with emerging research indicating that violence against women is a key predictor of poorer reproductive health among women and decreases the likelihood of treatment seeking for RTIs.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to
• Identify factors associated with reproductive health problems in women from Northern India 2)Discuss the reasons for failure to report and seek treatment for reproductive tract infections in this population

Keywords: Reproductive Health, India

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered