Reproductive Health in India : New Evidence
Contents: Acknowledgements. 1. Reproductive health in India: new evidence/Michael A. Koenig, Shireen Jejeebhoy, John C. Cleland and Bela Ganatra. 2. Reproductive tract infections among married young women in Rural Tamil Nadu/Jasmine Helen Prasad, Sulochana Abraham, Kathleen M. Kurz, Valentine George, M.K. Lalitha, Renu John, M.N.R. Jayapaul, Nandini Shetty and Abraham Joseph. 3. Reproductive health-seeking by married adolescent girls in Maharashtra/Alka Barua and Kathleen Kurz. 4. Bhai-Behen, true love, time pass: friendships and sexual partnerships among youth in an Indian metropolis/Leena Abraham. 5. Sexuality and sexual behaviour among street boys in Bangalore/Radha Srinivasa Murthy, Mani Karott and Jayashree Ramakrishna. 6. Health, illness and care in the obstetric period: a prospective study of women in Rural Karnataka/Jayashree Ramakrishna, Saraswathy Ganapathy, Zoe Matthews, Shanti Mahendra and Asha Kilaru. 7. Delivery and postnatal morbidity among Women in Urban Slums in New Delhi/Supriya Mayank Goyal and Nita Bhandari. 8. Gynoecological problems: perceptions and treatment-seeking behaviours of Rural Gujarati Women/Archana Joshi, Mrinalika Dhapola and Pertti J. Pelto. 9. Examining determinants of gynaecological morbidity from women's perceptions in Rural Rajasthan/Nandini Oomman. 10. Gynaecological morbidity among women seeking sterilization services in Rural Maharashtra/Arundhati Chrand Shilpa Vaidya. 11. Comparison of self-reported symptoms of gynaecological morbidity with clinical and laboratory diagnosis in a New Delhi Slum/Suneela Garg, Preena Bhalla, Nandini Sharma, Ragini Sahay, Anju Puri, Renuka Saha, Pushpa Sodhani, N.S. Murthy and Malti Mehra. 12. Sequence of fertility treatments among childless couples in Ranga Reddy District, Andhra Pradesh/Sayeed Unisa. 13. Treatment-seeking for gynoecological problems by women in Mumbai Slums/Radhika Ramasubban and Rishyasringa. 14. Treatment seeking for reproductive illness in Rural Tamil Nadu/K.G. Santhya. 15. Perceived gynaecological morbidity, health-seeking behaviour and expenditure in Karnataka/Jagdish C. Bhatia and John C. Cleland. 16. Induced abortions in Rural Western Maharashtra: prevalence and patterns/Bela Ganatra, Siddhivinayak Hirve, Shilpa Karvande, Laila Garda and V.N. Rao. 17. Seeking gratification: a study of sexual behaviour patterns of adolescents in an urban slum/Geeta Sodhi, Manish Verma and Pertti J. Pelto. 18. Early sexual experience of males in Orissa: context, partners and differentials/Martine Collumbien, Braj Das and Nabesh Bohidar. 19. Reflecting diversity and complexity in marital sexual relationships in a Low-Income Community in Mumbai/Shubhada Maitra and Stephen L. Schensul. 20. Beliefs concerning sexual health problems and treatment-seeking among men in an Indian Slum Community/Ravi K. Verma, Sumitra Sharma, Rajendar Singh, G. Rangaiyan and Pertti J. Pelto. Contributors. Index.
"Despite far-reaching changes in policy and programming aimed at improving reproductive and sexual health conditions in India, the last decade has seen mixed results in areas ranging from maternal health to sexual violence, service delivery to gender inequality.
This comprehensive volume presents 19 pioneering studies, each offering key insights that enhance our understanding of a broad range of sexual and reproductive health issues in the Indian context. Topics range from maternal reproductive health, infertility, abortion and treatment-seeking behaviour to sexual relationship formation, men's sexual health, coercive sex and spousal communication. Findings also highlight the situation and needs of such vulnerable populations as adolescents, street children and the urban and rural poor. By maintaining an emphasis on community and client perspectives, these studies provide crucial information on colloquial understandings of symptoms and treatment seeking along with experiences of morbidity and public versus private service utilization.
This collection of research findings represents a significant step forward in the understanding of sexual and reproductive health issues in India. It provides useful insights for health policy development and public and NGO sector programming as well as highlights gaps in evidence and priority issues that remain to be researched. This volume represents a valuable resource for policy makers and programme implementers, as well as researchers and public health advocates." (jacket)
