| Abstract: | This study was carried out in Dahanu taluka of Thane district in the state of Maharashtra, India, in October 1987 using cluster sampling. 10 clusters from 9 primary health centers were selected, which yielded 1954 families and a representative population of 7800. The distribution of various occupations among the women indicated that 1127 were housewives, 594 were agricultural laborers, 19 were skilled workers, 118 were unskilled workers, and 96 were engaged in other work. Regarding family income, 304 housewives earned 1000 rupees or more vs. 63 working mothers; 423 housewives earned 500-999 rupees vs. 451 working mothers; and 393 housewives earned 250-4999 rupees vs. 214 working mothers. As far as prenatal care was concerned, among housewives, 861 did not get any care, 190 had fewer than 3 visits, and 14 had over 3 visits. Among agricultural laborers, 533 did not get any care, 14 had fewer than 3 visits, and 2 had 3 or more visits. Among skilled workers, the respective figures were 10, 7, and 0. Among housewives, prenatal problems consisted of edema (18), anemia (7), and bleeding (36). The respective figures for agricultural laborers were 8, 21, and 26. Among housewives, 270 were attended by trained health workers at birth and 794 were attended by untrained health workers. The respective figures for agricultural laborers were 251 and 298; for unskilled workers, 20 and 94; and for skilled workers, 10 and 7. Among housewives, prolonged labor and malposition occurred in 4 cases, but these were absent in 1062 cases. The respective figures for working mothers were 9 and 673. Similarly, excessive bleeding or fever occurred in 9 housewives but were absent in 1059. The respective figures for working women were 2 and 679. Pregnancy outcome among housewives included 867 FTND, 2 very low birth weight, 3 safe birth?, 3 abortions, and 8 neonatal deaths. Among working women, the respective figures were 548, 3, 2, 1, and 6. Socioeconomic factors are linked to the level of health, and hard physical labor can adversely affect it. |
