Reproductive health of newly married women residing in a resettlement colony of Delhi: a longitudinal study

• Published in: Indian journal of public health Vol. 54; no. 1; pp. 30 - 32
• Main Authors: Singh, Samiksha, Chaturvedi, Sanjay, Kumar, Amod, Kannan, A T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.01.2010
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anemia - epidemiology; Contraception - utilization; Demographic aspects; Female; Health aspects; Health Surveys; Human reproduction; Humans; Incidence; India - epidemiology; Longitudinal method; Longitudinal Studies; Menstruation Disturbances - epidemiology; Methods; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Prenatal Care - statistics & numerical data; Refugees - statistics & numerical data; Spouses; Urban Population; Women; Women's Health; Young Adult; India
• ISSN: 0019-557X
• DOI: 10.4103/0019-557X.70547

During the period immediately after marriage, women are neither assessed for their reproductive health nor given any intervention for the same. A community based longitudinal study was done to assess the status of reproductive health of newly married women in which 71 newly married women were followed for 9 months. Mean age at marriage was 20.24 (19.74-20.74) years. 76.06% were anemic. With time, proportion reporting menstrual complaints and RTI symptoms increased significantly (P<0.05). 29 (40.85%) reported menstrual complaints and 22 (30.99%) RTI symptoms. Only 14 (19.72%) subjects used contraceptive methods. 79% conceived within 9 months of marriage. Only 25% pregnancies got registered in first trimester. Reproductive and nutritional status of the newly married women was unsatisfactory.