Reproductive Health and Its Association with Positive Mental Health A Study of Muslim Women in the Urban Slum Mumbai India

Abstract

Worldwide, women's reproductive health has always remained a matter of concern (WHO, 2015). Reproductive health among women in developing countries has remained poor during the last two decades. Although there has been a significant improvement, much remains to be addressed. India has significantly improved the status of reproductive health through different policies and programmes. However, the progress achieved is not as desired and uniform across the different social groups. There is a considerable gap in the achievement and progress of different socio- religious groups. Women from the poor and marginalized section of the society in particular are lagging in achieving the targets set by the national health policy. Muslim women are among the most vulnerable to get their reproductive health needs addressed. On the other side, reproductive health and mental health are intricately connected for well-being of an individual. Women cannot have good health without harmony between mental and physical health. However, studies of women’s reproductive events have generally been rigidly separated from the study of their mental health. Positive aspects of mental health are an unexplored area in women’s reproductive health.