Reproductive morbidity and quality of life among rural and urban ever-married women in Puducherry – A comparative cross-sectional study

• Suvathi Palanichamy,  
• Jyothi Vasudevan,*  
• Prahankumar Rajendran

Abstract

Aim and objective: To estimate and compare the prevalence of reproductive morbidity and health-related quality of life among ever-married women of reproductive age. Introduction: Sexual and reproductive health is vital for women’s well-being, yet remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. In past decades, the primary focus was on reducing maternal mortality, and reproductive morbidity had received less attention, despite the fact that it negatively impacts the well-being and over-all health of the sufferer to a very great extent. Material and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted over one year in urban and rural areas of a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry among 322 ever-married women aged 18-49 years, residing in the area for over 6 months. Participants were selected using systematic sampling proportional to size, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 16. Result: The study found that 56.6% of ever-married women aged 18-49 in Puducherry experienced at least one symptom of reproductive morbidity, with a higher prevalence in rural areas (58.5%) than in urban areas (54.7%). Women with the symptoms of reproductive morbidity had a poorer quality of life than their counterparts who did not report any symptoms. Conclusion: Reproductive morbidity is prevalent among ever-married women in Puducherry, particularly in rural areas, and is associated with reduced quality of life. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve healthcare access, promote contraceptive use, and encourage treatment-seeking behavior to enhance overall quality of life.

Keywords

Ever-married women, Reproductive Morbidity, Quality of Life, Reproductive Empowerment, Treatment-seeking behavior, Cross-sectional study