INTRODUCTION:

Reproductive health is an important part of general health that needs universal concern. It is very important for women during their reproductive years because much reproductive health related problems arise during this period¹. Any failures in living healthy reproductive life shall lead to different sexual diseases and other deficiencies that could also cause a risk to the life of a woman. In fact, all communities have their concepts of health, as part of their culture².

Nowadays women’s health care has changed from traditional settings and the change in the doctors’ care and their goals to enable and empower women will improve the total quality of women health³. Women's health issues have attained higher international visibility and renewed political commitment in recent decades⁴. With limited access to education or employment, high illiteracy rates and increasing poverty levels are making health improvements for women exceedingly difficult^5,6. The slogan, “Healthy Women, Healthy World” embodies the fact that as custodians of family health, women play a critical role in maintaining the health and well-being of their communities¹.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The aim of study was to assess the personal factors of reproductive health among the women at Puducherry. A cross-sectional descriptive research design was adapted to assess the personal determinants of reproductive health among the women in Sri Venkateswaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Ariyur, Puducherry. The study population was all the married women who were living in Puducherry. The sample size consists of 500 married women who were fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Convenience sampling technique was adopted for selection of samples. The study inclusion criteria was women who were live in Puducherry, married women who were the age group of 18 to 50, married women who were attending female gynecological out patients department in Sri Venkateswaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre at Puducherry and women who were able to speak in Tamil or English. Exclusion criteria of the study were women who were unmarried and not willing to participate in the study. Ethical clearance was obtained from Institute before the main study. There was no fund support from any agencies for the study. The data collection was done in regional language (Tamil) by face to face interview method by using structured interview schedule for each woman. The structure interview questionnaires were used to collect information related to marital history, children status, pregnancy related factors, data related to work load of women during pregnancy, antenatal care and delivery history of women and post-natal care related variables. After completing the data collection as per the interview schedule, the investigator has given health education on reproductive health. With the help of Laptop explained about anatomy and physiology of reproductive system, menstruation cycle, menstrual hygiene, how the baby forms, antenatal care, delivery, postnatal care and immunization in power point presentation.

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION OF THE STUDY:

· Marital history of women:

Out of 500 women, 481(96.2%) women were living with their husband, 254(51%) women were married at the age of 15-20 years and 4(0.8%) are married at the age of 31 and above, 27(5.4%) women were married at the age of 30 years, 81(16.2%) women has married before 21 years. Among them 29(5.8%) women said that the reason for early marriage was parents. As per Indian culture, the parents feel that they should handover their responsibilities of their daughter to other person as early as possible. Totally, 462 (92.4%) participants had satisfaction in their family life. Most of the women got satisfy with their family life. Because they were not faced any challenging problems in their regular life. So it shows most of the men attitude has changed towards women. Few women got un-satisfaction in their family life due to husband domination and in laws domination. These women live in joint family. More than half of the participants 312(62.4%) did not undergone any physical assaults after marriage.

· Children status of women:

Among 500 women, 83(16.6%) liked to have one child and 336(67.2%) women liked to have two children. Most of the Indian women prefer to have two children as if two children mean they will have good company and support within themselves. They share their emotion within each other. More than half of the study participants that was 303 (60.6%) women have two children. Their economic status was adjustable with two children only. Moreover they adopt the policy of the two and our two. Totally 247(49.4%)women were not have preference for the sex because they feel happy with any of the sex. Among of 500 women, 169 (33.8%) preferred male child in that 105(21%) women reported that the reason for male child preference was less responsibilities to parents, 59(11.8%) women reported that the reason was the male child will take care of the parents. Only 5(1%) women said that the reason was respect in society. As per Indian culture, the male child will hold and take all the responsibilities of the family next to parents as well as the male child only will take care of their parents during their old age. So, most of the parents prefer for male child. Out of 500 women, 84(16.8%) women had preference for female child. According to Indian Culture, feminity have common motherhood affection towards their children whatever the sex may be and daughter can help the mother for their household work and assisting the family. In more than half of the families 297(59.4%), child birth decision has been taken by husband.

· House hold responsibility of women during pregnancy:

Among 500 women, 314(62.8%) women carried out their household work by themselves. In our culture, most of the household work is done by the women only and nowadays most families are nuclear and no relatives to help them. It became customized that women are alone responsible for household activities even though she is pregnant. Moreover they feel satisfied if they do their household work on their own apart from other alternative. Majority of the women 410(82%) had free time to take rest, 456(91.2%) women had regular medical checkup. Most of the women go for regular medical checkup during the pregnancy period because they want safe delivery and healthy child survival. Moreover they were aware of importance of medical checkup through media, elders in the family and other informative sources.

· Antenatal care of women:

Table 1 shows the frequency and percentage of antenatal care of women in selected hospital at Puducherry.

Table 1: Antenatal Care of Women in Selected Hospital at Puducherry N=500

Antenatal care related factors		Frequency (No.)	Percentage (%)
Antenatal visit	Yes	434	86.8
Antenatal visit	No	66	13.2
Preference for Hospital	Private	143	28.6
Preference for Hospital	Government	357	71.4
advice given about diet	Yes	460	92.0
advice given about diet	No	40	8.0
Advice given about delivery care	Yes	457	91.4
Advice given about delivery care	No	43	8.6
Among family planning	Yes	458	91.6
Among family planning	No	42	8.4
Danger signs	Yes	454	90.8
Danger signs	No	46	9.2
Consumption of iron andfolic acid tablets	Yes	441	88.2
Consumption of iron andfolic acid tablets	No	59	11.8
Paid for the tablets	Yes	185	37.0
Paid for the tablets	No	315	63.0
Consumption of all Iron and folic acid tablets	Yes	407	81.4
Consumption of all Iron and folic acid tablets	No	93	18.6
Problem during pregnancy	Yes	86	17.2
Problem during pregnancy	No	414	82.8
Immunization	Yes	486	97.2
Immunization	No	14	2.8

· Delivery status of women:

Among 500 women, 401(80%) became pregnant within one year of their marital life. Moreover according to Indian heritage, after marriage, the next expectation is child birth. Majority 460 (92%) women reported that they experienced happiness during pregnancy. Most of the couples express happiness during pregnancy because they are eagerly waiting for their new arrival which is of their own blood relationship. Most of the husbands 484 (96.8%) felt happy during wife’s pregnancy. In Indian culture, after marriage everyone expects the child to develop their generation. Maximum women 446(89.2%) were not having a history of abortion. Due to the awareness through education, media and other informative sources, most of the women so far the antenatal and regular visit during their pregnancy period so as to avoid all complication. Totally 485 (97%) woman were not has a still birth. There is no history of still birth because women should aware of their pregnancy care and they feel that child in precious for them. Majority of the women 470(94.0%) didn’t have a child death. Most of the women did not have the history of child death because of the technological advancement existing in the medical field and availability of the medical renounce within.

· Majority 386 (77.2%) women were delivered normally. Most of the women got normal deliveries because of their frequent health checkup and proper consultation, 460 (92%) women’s babies were healthy. Most of the women babies were healthy because of proper immunization and regular health checkup during their pregnancy period and also with the proper diet. Among 500 women, 195 (39%) the first baby weights was 2 kg to 2.5 kg, 162 (32.4%) women’s first baby weight was 2.6 kg to 3 kg and 62 (12.4%) women’s first baby weight was more than 3 kg. Most of the baby weight was normal newborn weight because most of the women had folic acid and iron tablets during antenatal period. 110 (22%) women didn’t have second baby, second baby weight of 94 (18.8%) women was less than 2 kg, 159 (31.8%) women was between 2 kg to 2.5 kg, 122 (24.4%) women was between 2.6 kg to 3 kg and 15 (3%) women was more than 3 kg. The second baby weight also mostly normal weight because all the women had Iron and folic acid tablets in antenatal period, 14 (2.8) women didn’t have child, 420 (84%) women delivered their child in hospitals, 62 (12.4%) women delivered their child in home and 4 (0.8%) women delivered their child in other places like transport. Now-a-days most of the families know that the delivery should be take place in hospitals. They were aware of the hospital facilities offered by the Government and also the risk of getting delivered at home. So, most of the women delivered the baby in hospitals only. Most of the women 427 (85.4%) were delivered with the help of trained health personnel. The study reveals the people an aware of the facilities offered by the Government set up. Through the media and other source they believe that delivery should be conducted by trained persons only to avoid all complications and for safe survival. Totally, 444 (88.8%) women checked theirs and their baby health status regularly. Based on the study findings most of the women and baby health status was healthy. In maternal and child health programme, one of the main aims is improve the maternal and child health.

· Post Natal related factors of women: table 2 shows the frequency and percentage distribution of post-natal status after delivery of married women in Puducherry.

Table 2: Post Natal related factors of women in Selected Hospital at Puducherry N=500

Postnatal related Factors		Frequency (No.)	Percentage (%)
Duration of breast feed for baby	Nil	14	2.8
	Up to 3 months	46	9.2
	Upto 6 months	81	16.2
	Upto 9 months	126	25.2
	Upto 12 months	10	3.2
Problem after delivery	No child	14	2.8
	Yes	24	4.8
	No	462	92.4
Reason for Problem during delivery	Nil	476	95.2
	Infection	2	0.4
	Breast engorgement	16	3.2
	Bleeding	3	0.6
	Others	3	0.6
Menstruation after birth of the child	No child	14	2.8
	After 6 months	263	52.6
	After 1 year	171	34.2
	Don’t remember	52	10.4
Aware about breast self-examination	Yes	60	12.0
Aware about breast self-examination	No	440	88.0

CONCLUSION:

Most maternal deaths and pregnancy complications can be prevented if women have access to good-quality antenatal, natal and post-natal care and certain harmful birth practices also can be avoided. The Government of Puducherry is implementing all National Health Programmes^7-9. The reproductive health status of women at Puducherry is satisfactory. This finding will help the community people and health personnel to understand which the factors influence the women health beliefs and attitude towards early detection and prevention of reproductive health problems. So, they can provide proper emotional support and create health awareness among the women and their family members. In schools and colleges, teachers should come forward and encourage the women to provide information on prevention of reproductive health problems with the help of Audio-Visual aids. The health care system has the responsibility to provide women education service as an integral part in high quality cost effective care. The essence of research is to build up a body of knowledge in women’s health as it is an evolving profession.

DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

Nil

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

I acknowledge Dr. Mrs. A. Kalaimathy, Mother Teresa Women’s University, for her guidance. I would like thank the Head of the Institute for permitting me to conduct the study in Sri Venkateswaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre. I express my gratitude to all participants who were involved in the study.

REFERENCES:

1. Park. K (2007), “Park’s Text book of Social and Preventive Medicine” 19th Ed, Banarsidas Bhanot, Pg. No. 444.

2. Dutta. D.C., Textbook of obstetrics; including Perinatology and Contraception, 6th Ed. Calcutta; New Central Book Agency Private Ltd., 2004.

3. Sadhana G. Et. al., Awareness About Reproduction and Adolescent changes Among School Girls of Different Socio-Economic Status, The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India 2006, Vol.56: 324-328.

4. Bainbridge J, Dealing with breast and nipple soreness when breastfeeding. British Journal of Midwifery, 2005; 13(9): 552-556.

5. Blincoe J, Breast feeding and use of human milk journal of Pediatrics (American Academy of Pediatrics), 2005; 17(3): 254-259.

6. Pathi S and Das B.C. Breastfeeding Practices in Rural ICDS Block of Khallikote–South Orissa, Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 2005; 30(4): 154.

7. Government of India (2005), Sample Registration System Statistical Report 2003, Report No.2 of 2005.

8. Government of India (Sample Registration System), Maternal Mortality in India; 1997–2003, Trends, Causes and Risk Factors, Registrar General, India, New Delhi in collaboration with center for Global Health Research University of Toronto, Canada.

9. Government of India (2006), SRB Bulletin, April 2006, Vol.40, No.1.

Received on 21.09.2015 Modified on 29.09.2015

Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research. 2016; 6(2): 221-224.

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2996.2016.00041.0