Concepts and measures of reproductive morbidity.

ABSTRACT

PIP: An interdisciplinary group of researchers developed a conceptual and methodological framework to determine the extent of the problem of reproductive morbidity at the community level in Middle Eastern society and then, in turn, to improve reproductive health conditions in women. It conducted an exploratory study in a family planning clinic in Cairo, Egypt; a medical workshop on clarification of the symptomatology of reproductive morbidity; and a focus group in a village in Giza, Egypt, to ensure that the reproductive morbidity questions of interview questionnaires were appropriate and complete. The group tested the accuracy of the questionnaires in 2 villages in rural Giza (509 women). Field workers went to the women's homes to administer the questionnaire on characteristics of the household during the first visit. During the second visit, they administered the questionnaire on reproductive morbidity, and then the social researcher went with the women to the health center so the women could undergo a gynecological examination. 50% of the women had reproductive tract infections, especially vaginitis. 56% had prolapse, and prevalence increased significantly with age. 63% had anemia, especially 14-19 year olds (76%). Just 24 women (5%) had no reproductive morbidity. About 50% had at least 3 reproductive conditions. The leading problems reported by the women were vaginal discharge (77%), dysmenorrhea (71%), perceived delay in conception (48%), stress incontinence (37%), and pain during intercourse (36%). Feeling of heaviness below, probably indicating prolapse, was the only symptom which increased with age (p = .03). 41% had been pregnant in the last 2 years. 77% delivered at home. Leading conditions during pregnancy were headache (59%) and discharge (45%), and those after delivery were fever and discharge/inflammation (30% for both). The interdisciplinary group proposed 3 mechanisms which are of utmost importance to policy: conducting similar research in other communities, expansion of reproductive health services at the community level, and implementing changes in the education and training programs of health professionals and social scientists.