A study of Rural Women's Health

Sanjay V. Patel

Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, D.M. Patel Arts and S.S. Patel Commerce College, Ode, Gujarat.

*Corresponding Author E-mail:

ABSTRACT:

According to the World Health Organization, health is not merely the absence of disease but a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. The real meaning of being healthy is focusing on yourself and adopting healthy ways of living. After independence in India, health has been one of the main goals facing the country. There have always been obstacles in bringing health facilities to the rural people of the country. The average life expectancy of people in India increased from 32 years in 1951 to 64.6 years for men and 67.6 years for women in 2011. If we look at the nutritional status of women and adolescents in India, 58% of pregnant women are anaemic. 33% of malnourished women, 30% of married women under the age of 18 and 42% of women with low weight during pregnancy. A study unit of 10 villages has been selected from each taluka of Bhavnagar district.

A total of 300 women namely 30-30 rural women from each village have been purposefully selected through Yadachh demonstration method. In the present study, 62% of the respondents have common illnesses like cold, cough, fever, and headache, in modern times, very few people take home remedies during the treatment of the illness, while the maximum number of respondents take the treatment in the hospital. There is a government hospital facility in their village to a small extent, while there is a small amount of private hospital, the government health worker comes to their village to a very small extent, 68% of the respondents say that the doctor comes regularly to the health center of their village, 69% of the subjects under study. The respondent is getting satisfactory advice from the employee. In the present study, more than half of the respondents have to pay the expenses of the illness to their husbands, while less amount have to be paid by themselves. In the present study maximum respondents know about Ma Amritham Yojana but take little benefit of it. In the present study only 8% respondents deliver at home. While 28% of the respondents give birth in a hospital and 42% in a private hospital. In the present study, rural women suffered from many health related problems due to economic factors. In the present study also more health related problems have been observed in uneducated women as compared to educated women. Overhead delivery is very harmful to a woman's health. Rural women have a high rate of miscarriage due to lack of education and awareness or other family reasons that negatively affect their health. Even today, there is a tradition in the rural society that after all the men in the house have eaten, the women eat, due to which there is not enough food left. This leads to malnutrition among rural women and this condition of malnutrition over time creates serious diseases. These health issues arise in villages under study where facilities are lacking.

KEYWORDS: Rural community, health, problem, malnutrition, facilities, serious, organization, independence

INTRODUCTION:

A factor responsible for the poor health status of rural women is their lack of nutrition. Due to the lack of nutrition, conditions like malnutrition have arisen and due to this many types of diseases are prevalent. More than half of India's villages suffer from anomie due to lack of essential nutrients. About 22 thousand women especially pregnant women die of anomie in India. A number of social, economic and personal factors are responsible for the poor health status of rural women. Sanitation, education, lack of awareness, poor economic status, traditions, customs, husbandry, heavy physical labour, irregular diet, feticide, frequent births etc. are considered responsible for many factors.

Concept of health :-

The word "health" means health or fitness. In English "health" means "sound body and sound mind". Derived from Old Germanic and Anglo-Saxon word “Hale” meaning “Wholeness” meaning whole, health and holy. W.H.O. In 1946, he gave his definition of health in which "health is a complete state of mental and social, spiritual well-being and not only the absence of disease, but the achievement of health and well-being."

From a sociological point of view, the concept of health can be understood in six ways in which 1. Biological 2. Physical 3. Socio-cultural environment 4. Psychological 5. Can be understood in terms of economic and food habits.

Health in India :-

The issue of health in India is complex before independence. After independence, India's health-related facilities increased, physical facilities increased accordingly, but due to lack of change in people's lifestyle, the level of health could not improve. The average life expectancy of people in India increased from 32 years in 1951 to 64.6 years for men and 67.6 years for women in 2011. A separate budget has been earmarked for improving health standards in the five-year plan since independence. Subsequently, initiatives were taken to eradicate tuberculosis in the Third Five Year Plan, programs for the eradication of vitamin deficiency diseases were undertaken in the Fourth Five Year Plan, family planning programs were implemented in the Fifth Plan, primary health services were expanded in the Sixth Plan, primary health services were expanded in the Seventh Plan. A health policy was made in the Eighth Plan, the slogan of health for all was implemented, in the Eleventh Plan Rs 71731 cores were allocated.

Structure of Health Services in India :-

In order to provide health facilities to every citizen of India, the Government of India has designed the structure of health services as follows Primary Health Care Secondary Health Care Tertiary Health Care Health Sub Centre Sub Divisional Hospital Medical College and Hospital. Primary Health Centres District Hospitals Institutions and Research Centres

Rural women's health situation :-

The health situation in India is a matter of great concern. Health problems are seen especially in rural women. The most delicate time for women's health is motherhood. Women are the backbone of the family. When a woman falls ill, it affects the family. If we look at the nutritional status of women and adolescents in India, 58% of pregnant women are anemic. 33% of malnourished women, 30% of married women under the age of 18 and 42% of women with low weight during pregnancy. The use of technology in the field of health in India has been seen increasing day by day. Efforts have been made to improve the health status of rural women through use of technology and government schemes. Women's Health Several schemes have been implemented for women's health in India. These schemes include Telemedicine, Mother and Child Tracking System, Kilkari Yojana, National Health Portal, Nutrition Abhiyan Yojana, International Women's Health Campaign Day, Dudh Sanjeevni Yojana, Jani Suraksha Yojana, National Health Insurance Yojana etc.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

The present study has been done with reference to the health situation and problems of rural women. Its main purpose is as follows

1. To get information about health facilities in rural areas.

2. To know the health status and problems of rural women.

3. To check health awareness among rural women.

4. To know the causes of health problems of rural women

METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY:

Present study In order to check the health status and problems of rural women, a study unit of 10 villages has been selected from each taluka of Bhavnagar district of Gujarat state as a study unit. A total of 300 women namely 30-30 rural women from each village have been purposefully selected through Yadachh demonstration method. Data has been collected through interview schedule from the selected respondents. Based on the analysis of this data, the findings and conclusions are as follows.

CONCLUSIONS:

In the present study most of the respondents are found in the age group of 20 to 30 years, most of the respondents in the present study live in joint family. In the present study 92% respondents are married. In the present study, 62% of the respondents have common illnesses like cold, cough, fever, and headache, in modern times, very few people take home remedies during the treatment of the illness, while the maximum number of respondents take the treatment in the hospital. There is a government hospital facility in their village to a small extent, while there is a small amount of private hospital, the government health worker comes to their village to a very small extent, 68% of the respondents say that the doctor comes regularly to the health center of their village, 69% of the subjects under study. The respondent is getting satisfactory advice from the employee. In the present study, more than half of the respondents have to pay the expenses of the illness to their husbands, while less amount have to be paid by themselves. In the present study maximum respondents know about Ma Amritham Yojana but take little benefit of it. In the present study only 8% respondents deliver at home. While 28% of the respondents give birth in a hospital and 42% in a private hospital. 20% of the respondents have had a miscarriage once. Maximum respondents take doctor's advice during pregnancy. 37% of the respondents under the study are addicted.

Health awareness is higher among women in rural areas. However, all factors affecting women's health in rural communities in India play an important role. Especially poverty causes population growth, population density. Out of which health related problems are created.In the present study, rural women suffered from many health related problems due to economic factors. Apart from this, malnutrition is also considered to be an important factor. Especially when a woman is pregnant, there is a need for a highly nutritious diet, but most women do not get enough, suffering from anemia due to the lack of essential elements. In the study, it was observed that women lack nutritious diet and due to this problem of malnutrition is seen in them. Lack of sanitation is seen in the rural community as women are mostly engaged in animal husbandry. As a result their health is affected. Cleanliness is a very important factor for women working in villages. Because it is directly related to health. Most of the women in the village are engaged in animal husbandry. Hence their contact with animals increases. Takes a desperate attitude in providing fodder for them, keeping them clean etc. In the present study also more health related problems have been observed in uneducated women as compared to educated women. Overhead delivery is very harmful to a woman's health. Rural women have a high rate of miscarriage due to lack of education and awareness or other family reasons that negatively affect their health. Even today, there is a tradition in the rural society that after all the men in the house have eaten, the women eat, due to which there is not enough food left. This leads to malnutrition among rural women and this condition of malnutrition over time creates serious diseases. These health issues arise in villages under study where facilities are lacking.

REFERENCE:

1. Shaleen N. Shukla (2018), Health and its Maintenance, Sadvichar Parivar, Ahmedabad.

2. Anil Vaghela (2017), Sociology of Sanitation, Gyan Books Pvt. Lee. Delhi.

3. Chandrakant Laharia, Transforming Indian Health Systems, Yojana, September-2019.

4. T. Sundaraman, Health Sector Issues and Challenges in India: Solutions for a Brighter Future, Scheme, February-2016.

5. Hitesh Jagani, Status of Rural Health Services in India, Challenges and Solutions, Research Guru, March-2019.

6. National Health Profile - 2018

7. https://gujhealth.gujarat.gov.in/images/pdf/Districtwise-Hospitals-Health-Centres-Summary-list.

Received on 14.01.2024 Modified on 19.02.2024

Int. J. Ad. Social Sciences. 2024; 12(1):1-3.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2679.2024.00001