Caste Variation in Reproductive Health of Women: A Case Study of Patna (Bihar, India) | Original Article

ABSTRACT:

This paper analyses the reproductive health status of women from four prominent scheduled caste of Patna (Bihar) namely the Dusadhs, the Chamars, the Pasis the Musahars. We preferred to choose these scheduled castes because, being clear about the impact of socio-economic status on the reproductive health we preferred to concentrate our case study to lower castes having lower socio-economic status and thus analyzing results sincerely based on caste factor. A Reproductive Health Index (RHI) is computed from a series of reproductive health indicators (contraceptive use, birth order, birth interval, antenatal care and skilled assistance at delivery) for the caste groups (based on H.H. Risley's classification). Multivariate regression analysis is carried out to understand the impact of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics on reproductive health. In addition to analyzing the Government of India the Government of Bihar reports on the related subject we do collected data(s) through door-to-door survey among a random representative sample of the subjects belonging to the same socio-economic status. A Performa of questionnaire was used to measure the reproductive fitness of the members. It was also found that the groupcaste which had relatively better educational, Social Economical status had better reproductive health profile as adjudged by contraceptive used, place of child deliveries, antenatal care and consumption of vitaminiron pills during pregnancy.