The Reproductive Health Conditions of Women in Khulna City Corporation

Abstract

Objectives: In this study, efforts were made to explore the nature and pattern of reproductive health of women and to find out the barriers to their reproductive health. Methods: The study area was purposively selected, and the areas were wards 17 (Nobinogor) and 18 (Alamin Moholla & Sonadanga) in Khulna City Corporation of Bangladesh. Respondents were selected by using simple random sampling. By using the survey method, the duration of data collection was from September to October 2023 along with the sample size was 322. Results: The results show that most respondents experienced ovarian insufficiency, uterine fibroids, shortness of breath, and weakened immune systems. Many participants also experienced infertility, which included menopause, osteoporosis, and respiratory illnesses. Regarding the obstacles that most respondents had a moderate opinion. In addition, most respondents had difficulties meeting their health demands. During this time, most respondents knew only a moderate amount about healthcare. The respondents' age (p<0.05), living arrangement (p <0.001), household income (p<0.05), savings (p<0.04), and spouses' age were all statistically significant factors in their ability to access family planning. Furthermore, the number of children (0.273**), the income of the respondents’ spouses (0.129**), and the head of the households of the respondents were also statistically significant (0.122**) with the most common issues and cases the respondents suffered. Conclusion: To mitigate these barriers and challenges, it is essential for the government and policymakers to implement appropriate initiatives.

Keywords

• health
• women
• Khulna city corporation

References

1. Abu Helwa, H. A., Mitaeb, A. A., Al-Hamshri, S., & Sweileh, W. M. (2018). Prevalence of dysmenorrhea and predictors of its pain intensity among Palestinian female university students. BMC women's health, 18(1), 1-11.
2. Allen, L., H. (2020). Anemia and iron deficiency: effects on pregnancy outcome, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 71 (suppl): 1280S–4S
3. Aziz, K. M. A., B. A. Hoque, S. R. A. Huttly, K. M. Minnatullah, Z. Hasan, M. K. Patwary, M. M. Rahaman and S. Cairncross. (2019). Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Education- Report of a Health Impact Study in Mirzapur, Bangladesh; Water and Sanitation Report Series1, Washington, D.C., U.S.A., pp.1-83.
4. Berg, J. A., Shaver, J., Woods, N. F., & Kostas-Polston, E. A. (2022). Women's sexual/reproductive health and access challenges amid COVID-19 pandemic. Nursing Outlook, 70(2), 238-246.
5. Blair, P. W. (ed.). (1980). Health Needs of the World's Poor Women. Equity Policy Center, Washington, D.C. pp.171-173.
6. Brooks, S. K., Webster, R. K., Smith, L. E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., & Rubin, G. J. (2020). The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: Rapid review of the evidence. Lancet (London, England), 395 (10227), 912–920.
7. Chekol, B. M., Muluye, S., & Sheehy, G. (2023). Impacts of COVID-19 on reproductive health service provision, access, and utilization in Ethiopia: Results from a qualitative study with service users, providers, and stakeholders. PLOS Global Public Health, 3(3), e0001735.
8. Council of Europe. (7 May 2020). COVID-19: Ensure women's access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. Retrieved from https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-

9. De Pergola, G., Tartagni, M., d'Angelo, F., Centoducati, C., Guida, P., & Giorgio, R. (2009). Abdominal fat accumulation, and not insulin resistance, is associated to oligomenorrhea in nonhyperandrogenic overweight/obese women. Journal of endocrinological investigation, 32, 98101.
10. Equipo COVID-19. CSiViES. CNE. CNM (ISCIII). (2020). Informe sobre la situación de COVID19 en España (Informe COVID-19 n° 17. 27.03.20). National Epidemiology
11. Fuchs, A., Matonóg, A., Pilarska, J., Sieradzka, P., Szul, M., Czuba, B., & Drosdzol-Cop, A. (2020). The impact of COVID−19 on female sexual health. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(19), 7152.
12. Health and Science Bulletin (HSB). (2019). An overview under-nutrition in Bangladesh, Health Care in Rural Bangladesh, Population and Development Review 7 (1), pp. 55-70
13. Kavanaugh, M. L., Pleasure, Z. H., Pliskin, E., Zolna, M., & MacFarlane, K. (2022). Financial instability and delays in access to sexual and reproductive health care due to COVID-19. Journal of Women's Health, 31(4), 469-479.
14. Lim, S. S., Norman, R. J., Davies, M. J., & Moran, L. J. (2013). The effect of obesity on polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Obesity Reviews, 14(2), 95109.
15. Phelan, N., Behan, L. A., & Owens, L. (2021). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women's reproductive health. Frontiers in endocrinology, 191.
16. Silumbwe, A., Nkole, T., Munakampe, M. N., Milford, C., Cordero, J. P., Kriel, Y., & Steyn, P. S. (2018). Community and health systems barriers and enablers to family planning and contraceptive services provision and use in Kabwe District, Zambia. BMC health services research, 18(1), 1-11.
17. Szuster, E., Kostrzewska, P., Pawlikowska, A., Mandera, A., Biernikiewicz, M., & Kałka, D. (2021). Mental and sexual health of Polish women of reproductive age during the COVID-19 pandemic–an online survey. Sexual Medicine, 9(4), 100367-100367.
18. VanBenschoten, H., Kuganantham, H., Larsson, E. C., Endler, M., Thorson, A., Gemzell-Danielsson, K., & Cleeve, A. (2022). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to and utilisation of services for sexual and reproductive health: a scoping review. BMJ global health, 7(10), e009594.
19. World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). Women and Health, Global Health Observatory, World Health Organization, Geneva.
20. Williams, N. I., Berga, S. L., & Cameron, J. L. (2007). Synergism between psychosocial and metabolic stressors: impact on reproductive function in cynomolgus monkeys, American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 293(1), E270-E276.