Self-reported uterine prolapse in a resettlement colony of north India.
The aims of this study are to estimate the prevalence of self-reported uterine prolapse and to determine the treatment-seeking behavior of the respondents. Participants of this study are married women of Dadu Majra colony, Chandigarh, India, January-February, 1996. A house-to-house screening of the women was done by a nursing student utilizing a checklist of indicator symptoms of uterine prolapse. All women reporting such symptoms were interviewed further. Among the 2,990 women surveyed, 227 (7.6%) reported symptoms of uterine prolapse. Of the 227 women with self-reported uterine prolapse, 128 (57%) had not taken any treatment, 28 went to a traditional birth attendant (TBA), and 47 (21%) consulted a doctor. Thirty-eight women were advised to have an operation, but only eight complied. Other treatments used by small numbers of women included the use of a ring pessary or alcohol-soaked swab and heel pressure technique. Reasons for non-consultation included shyness (80; 63%), lack of cooperation by the husband, lack of time (80; 63%) and lack of money (74; 58%). The prevalence of prolapse was significantly higher in women with higher parity. More than 7% of the women reported symptoms of uterine prolapse.
Kumari
S
S
College of Nursing, PGIMER, Chandigarh.
Walia
I
I
Singh
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010298:Parity; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016387:Women's Health