ABSTRACT
Background: Reproductive health plays a significant role in a woman’s life. Women of child bearing age group in developing countries suffer ill health due to lack of knowledge on reproductive health issues. The objective of the present study was to assess the knowledge regarding reproductive health among women and the associated socio-demographic factors.Methods: A total of 345 women of age group 15-44 years were recruited using cluster sampling in 15 clusters from among 28 villages under a Primary Health Center from May to July 2017. Data on sociodemographic details and knowledge of reproductive health under the following domains: menstruation, contraception, reproductive tract infections and marriage and pregnancy were collected using a modified interview schedule.Results: The mean age of the study population was 28.59±9.08 years. Majority of them belonged to age group 15-30 years (60%), attained school level education (55.7%), 45% were gainfully employed, married (65.5%) and from middle class (40.6%). It was found that out of 345 study population; only 19% had adequate knowledge on reproductive health. The proportion of women who had adequate knowledge in each domain was marriage and pregnancy (47.5%), menstruation (29.9%), contraception (17.4%) and least being reproductive tract infections (15%). Knowledge on reproductive health was significantly inadequate among women in the age group 31-44 years, illiterate women, who belongs to lower class and students. Only, socio-economic status and occupation were the significant predictors of knowledge.Conclusions: Knowledge regarding reproductive health was inadequate among women in reproductive age group in rural areas.
ABSTRACT
Background: Antenatal care and supplementary nutrition are evidence-based strategies to improve neonatal outcomes and birth weight, and are currently provided free of cost by the government in every village through the ICDS. This study aims to assess the utilization of Anganwadi services by pregnant and lactating mothers in a rural area and the various barriers to utilization of Anganwadi services.Methods: A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women (more than 28 weeks gestation) and lactating mothers (up to 6 months after delivery) availing maternal and child health services at a maternity hospital in a rural area of Ramnagara district in South Karnataka, using a pre-tested questionnaire.Results: Awareness regarding Anganwadi services available for pregnant and lactating mothers like IFA, calcium and deworming tablets, TT and health check-ups was found to be poor. While more than half of the women had received health education from Anganwadi teacher, important topics like dangers signs, birth preparedness and essential antenatal care were not discussed.Conclusions: Utilization of health care services at the Anganwadi was poor among the subjects. Supplementary nutrition was not utilized by 54% of pregnant women and 43% of lactating mothers. Those who had been visited by Anganwadi teacher at home and those who received nutrition education by the Anganwadi teacher had significantly higher consumption of supplementary nutrition. The common barriers to utilization were lack of awareness of services and perception of poor quality and hygiene of the supplementary nutrition.