Self-reported symptoms of gynecological morbidity and treatment seeking behavior in Madhya Pradesh

Santosh Gupta, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

Globally, reproductive and sexual health problems show an increasing share in the burden of disease over the recent years. In developing countries especially India, morbidity due to RTIs and STIs are very high, relative to those associated with other health problems. In India, there is high differential in reporting gynecological morbidity among currently married women in northern and southern parts of the India: Madhya Pradesh is one of them. Cultural norms and values promote early marriage of women in Madhya Pradesh. The rural women, who are under-nourished, early pregnancy along with malnourishment, would enhance the risk of hazardous pregnancy outcomes as well as problems related to RTI/STI. Gynecological morbidity includes any condition, disease or dysfunction of the reproductive system which is not related to pregnancy, abortion or child birth, but may be related to sexual behavior. This paper attempt to an analysis of self-reported symptoms of gynecological problems among currently married women in Madhya Pradesh using data from Reproductive and Child Health Survey, 2002-04. Around two fifth currently married women reported at least one reproductive health problems. Among those women who had symptoms of RTI/STI, one out of four had sought treatment. Most of the women visited private health sector for sought treatment. In case of receiving treatment for RTI/STI, most of the women went to a doctor. Multinomial logistic regression has been used for analyzing the health seeking behavior among currently married women in this state. women from urban areas are significantly more likely to seek treatment from public sector than their counterparts. The results also demonstrate that women from high SLI group are more likely to seek treatment compared to low SLI group. Knowledge about RTI/STI, age at which women started living with husband and place of delivery has significantly impact on the sought treatment for gynecological morbidity.