"She's fine!" Postpartum practices, morbidity and public health services in southern Rajasthan, India
Abstract
This research was carried out in an agricultural community in rural Rajasthan, India from 2009-12; with the scope and purpose of documenting prevalent postpartum practices, morbidity and factors that influence women's health during postpartum, exploring linkages of postpartum health with the intricate fabric of socio-cultural factors, and examining the role of public health services. Over 98 percent of the women enrolled in this study were found to have mild to severe anemia and 87 percent of the women reported postpartum morbidity including symptoms of chronic illnesses such as white discharge, menstrual problems, pain in the abdomen, backache and fever. Other important findings of this research include the "normalization" of women's ill-health during postpartum by her family and health services, linkage of women's health during postpartum with farming season and relations with in-laws, and prevalence of apathy and rampant corruption in public health centers. The study also highlights the diminishing role of traditional birth attendants, and the lack of priority given to postpartum care by the public health care services and national health programs. Based on the analysis of ethnographic data and other information gathered during this research, a theoretical model has been developed that explains the construction of postpartum experience of the respondents. This study also recommends developing and implementing a postpartum care program for nursing mothers, including a multi-pronged nutrition supplementation program.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Williams, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Cultural anthropology|Obstetrics|Womens studies|Public health|South Asian Studies
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