Reproductive health needs and care seeking behaviour of pavement dwellers of Calcutta.

摘要: An unabated growth of street dwellers in the city Calcutta is reported to be due twin reasons: migration rural poor people as well uncontrolled fertility among these settlers city. A community-based study on reproductive health and related care-seeking behavior was studied a sample women childbearing age living streets Calcutta. The quite common conditions leukorrhea (28.5%) menstrual irregularity (12.3%) infertility (2.5%) sexually transmitted disease (1.3%) were also reported. But most illnesses (75%) remained untreated; for remaining 25% those affected sought treatment from government institutions private agencies even untrained practitioners (quacks). street-dwelling characterized by early marriage teenage pregnancies scarce use contraceptives (32%) frequent abortions (2.8%). Very few pregnant received adequate antenatal care (3.8%). Coverage tetanus toxoid immunization (68.5%) proper iron folic acid supplementation (16.7%) poor. Antenatal mostly (71%); home delivery (i.e. streets) practice conducted birth attendants (51.8%). (authors modified)