Reproductive Health Status of Sugali Tribal Women: A Field Based Study

Abstract The present study aimed at assessing the reproductive health status of Sugali women of the Rayalaseema region in Andhra Pradesh. About 200 women in the age range of 15-45 years were interviewed regarding age at menarche, age at marriage, age at first conception, menstrual problems, fertility and mortality levels, prevalence of diseases and women’s perception towards health in a cross-sectional design. Illiteracy was documented to an extent of sixty-five percent. Thirty-six percent of the subjects opined that their self-reported health was fair or poor. Illiterate women were 1.27 times at risk of developing menstrual irregularity than educated women. Simultaneously, the risk increased to 1.85 times when the spouse was illiterate too. Similar results were obtained with menstrual problems and abortions. In conclusion, it is inferred that Sugali women are subjected to significant reproductive health risks mediated by socio-economic conditions.