Reproductive health complications among women: A study in a tertiary hospital of Mumbai

Background: In spite of the drastic reduction in maternal morbidity over the last few decades due to improvements in obstetric care, maternal mortality remains to be a challenge in the developing world. Maternal mortality is the most extreme consequence of poor maternal health and millions of women in developing countries experience life threatening and other serious health problems related to childbirth. Concerning the issue of maternal morbidity and mortality, the study tries to find out the health complications during pregnancy, delivery and post-delivery among women belonging to lower socio-economic strata in Mumbai city. Methods: The study was based on primary data by interviewing 300 inpatients in a tertiary hospital of Mumbai during January to June 2013. Results: Out of total, 97% women reported of any complications during pregnancy while 85% of women reported complications during delivery. Of all respondents, excessive vomiting, weakness, anemia during pregnancy and prolonged labor, excessive bleeding during delivery were highly reported. Complications were mostly reported by young, less educated and primiparous women. Most of the pregnancies ended with live birth while a few reported of delivered stillbirth having any labor related complications. Higher proportion of women received more than three antenatal care visits as the majority of women from lower strata had undergone check-up only when they suffered from complications. Conclusion: Usually women visit medical officer at the government hospital or local medical practitioner for check-ups. So, it is necessary to improve services available and availed during complications related to childbirth.