Reproductive health needs and care seeking behaviour of pavement dwellers of Calcutta
Ray, S.K.; Biswas, R.; Kumar, S.; Chatterjee, T.; Misra, R.; Lahiri, S.K.
Journal of the Indian Medical Association 99(3): 142-3 145
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5847 PMID: 11478757 Document Number: 527542
A community-based study on reproductive health, fertility and related care seeking behaviour was carried out among a sample of women (n=463) of child bearing age living on streets of Calcutta, India. Besides the quite common conditions, leucorrhoea (28.5%), menstrual irregularities (12.3%), infertility (2.5%) and sexually transmitted diseases (1.3%) were also reported. But most of these illnesses (75%) were uncared for, and the remaining 25% sought treatment from government institutions, private agencies or even from untrained practitioners (quacks). The reproductive behaviour of street dwelling women was characterized by early marriage, teenage pregnancies, and scarce use of contraceptives (32%) as well as frequent abortions (2.8%). Very few pregnant women received adequate antenatal care (3.8%). Coverage of tetanus toxoid immunization (68.5%) and proper iron and folic acid supplementation (16.7%) were also poor. Antenatal care was received mostly from government health institutions (71%). Home delivery (i.e., on street) was a common practice and conducted mostly by untrained birth attendants (51.8%).