Prevalence of reproductive health morbidity and treatment seeking behaviour among unmarried young Indians: Gender perspective analysis

Present study investigates prevalence of reproductive health morbidities among unmarried adolescent men and women, their treatment-seeking behaviour and its association with socio demographic correlates in India. Data drawn form Youth in India: Situation and Needs study, conducted during 2006-08. It focused on 28,884 unmarried young women and men aged 15–24. Results of study witnessed a significant association between male and female adolescents with regard to prevalence of reproductive morbidity. It is quite high among unmarried men (28.0percent) than women (19.5percent). Bi-variate analysis shows that place of residence, age, caste, educational status, occupation, and wealth index variables emerged as significant association with prevalence of RH problems among unmarried female. in contrast, age, occupation, stayed outside home and exposure to media variables shows significant correlates with prevalence of RH problems among unmarried male. Residence and media exposure emerged as significant correlates of treatment-seeking practices among both unmarried men and women. Prevalence of reproductive health morbidity in this vulnerable group, particularly unmarried young men, requires urgent intervention of health planners.