Manuscript Title:

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OF THE TAI-AITON WOMEN OF ASSAM, INDIA

Author:

POLLYPRIYA BURAGOHAIN

DOI Number:

DOI:10.5281/zenodo.10612581

Published : 2024-01-23

About the author(s)

1. POLLYPRIYA BURAGOHAIN - Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, D.H.S.K. College, Dibrugarh, Assam.

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Abstract

Reproductive Health characterizes the absolute health condition of a population and mainly implies the women’s health, right and empowerment. After the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo (1994), women and child health acquired a major momentum, where it was advocated that every participant country should accomplish allied programmes for Reproductive Health. Reproductive health was defined in ICPD as “the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes” (ICPD Programme of Action, paragraph 7.2). As per WHO’s data, 5,36,000 women died in 2005 due to the complications of pregnancy and childbirth and further to 400 deaths per 1,00,000 live births. According to the MMR Bulletin, 2011-2013, Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, maternal deaths (300) were higher in Assam and lowest in Kerala (46) among the Indian states. Health statistics on infant and child mortality rates pointed to low health levels among Tribals (Ramana, 2015). The Tai-Aitons are a recognizable scheduled tribe of Assam having their own distinctive culture and tradition. They have been recognized as Scheduled Tribes (Hills) and are listed as Man-Tai Speaking people by the Government of Assam. No specific data about the total population of the Tai-Aitons are available. Though data are not accessible, but various studies exhibit that population of Tai-Aitons is very less, which may indicate a sign to their reproductive health. However, the study on reproductive health status of the tribes of India in general and North-East India is very limited. Moreover, extensive study on the reproductive health status of the Tai-Aiton community has not been made yet. Data is collected from two development blocks of Karbi-Anglong district and one development block of Golaghat district (total 210 households) based on the data of Man-Tai Speaking National Council, Assam, Population Cum Education Census (2006). The data related to this study are collected from August 2019 to October 2019. To analyze the reproductive health status of the sample population, ‘Reproductive Health Index’ is computed based on a set of reproductive health indicators. Therefore, it is expected that this study will explore the reproductive health status of the Tai-Aitons and its correlates.
 


Keywords

Reproductive Health, Women, Tai-Aiton, Tribe, Assam.