Common Health Problems during Postpartum Period among Females in Rural Areas of Aligarh

ABSTRACT

Background: Postpartum maternal morbidity is defined by WHO as morbidity that occurs in the first 6 weeks after delivery.WHO defines maternal death as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and the site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.The leading cause of maternal mortality is postpartum hemorrhage .There are incidences of postpartum psychosis in many females which include postpartum blues, postnatal depression and postpartum psychosis The aim of this study was to find out self reported common health problems during the postpartum period in the women of rural areas of Aligarh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during Dec in 2017, in the rural areas of Jawan, Aligarh. The study subjects were married women aged between 15 to 45 years, who were present in the postpartum period, those who refused to provide consent, were excluded. Results: The results reported that 82% of females under study had problem of backache.Only 20% had breast problem. 92% of them gave complaint of either pain in lower abdomen.22% were suffering from white discharge per vaginum.There were psychological problems also present in the females under study. Most probable reason for these psychological problems were that some of the females were primigravida .So they had no experience of motherhood. Conclusion: The factors responsible for postpartum morbidity should be detected.Antenatal education programme needs to be implemented on a large scale.