Health Status of Women in Border Areas of Jammu and Kashmir with Special Reference to Maternal and Reproductive Health: An Analysis

Abstract

World Health Organization defined “Health refers to be complete social wellbeing of an individual”. If we see in every society, women’s maternal and reproductive health is always a matter of concern. The factors that are more important for women’s health are nutritional status, education, age, social status, and geographical location. History revealed that there is a political disturbance in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir since the partition between the two nations India and Pakistan in 1947, which impacts the lives of people residing there. In the case of women (who) are sensitive at one end and their health is affected by these circumstances. To acquaint the civil right of all individuals is said to as gender equality. Particularly, in remote border areas of Jammu and Kashmir women’s concerning a lot of suffering and challenges regarding health. Overall, they are disadvantaged in all spheres and become prone to any change. However, they are not getting proper health care in specific. Almost they are under restrictions and not allowed to make social interactions. There is no sign of mobility has been observed concerning their socioeconomic conditions. Although there is a dearth of proper health infrastructure and there is no evidence of primary health care centers. Nevertheless, structural, and contextual circumstances signify a major role to decide the health of women such as early marriages, malnutrition, anaemia, reproductive, and oral health issues, and psychological problems, which this all-lead fuel to women’s woe. Admittedly, it is to be said that due to all these challenges women are at risk of morbidity and mortality. It is reported that in the border regions there is a high rate of maternal mortality. To maintain the authenticity of my objective, I explore literature related to maternal and reproductive health and the impact of turmoil on the socio-economic life of women. This work is based on secondary sources and primarily addresses the issues of women’s health in the border areas in Jammu and Kashmir. Secondary information has also been collected from various sources such as Books, Reports, Journals, Articles, Census, and Online sources. Articles reviewed for this paper revealed the deteriorating condition of border areas of Jammu and Kashmir and how women are living under deprivation. The paper put forth recommendations to ensure that there should be civil rights for every female and inclusion in every institution which make them empowered and provide a better direction for improving the health of women.