Health Care Access and Health-Seeking Behaviors among Rural Women in Punjab

Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19181157

Nishu Sharma¹, Gaganpreet Kaur², and Atinder Pal Kaur³ (Project Research Assistant, DMC&H, Ludhiana, Punjab¹ and Department of Economics and Sociology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab^2,3)

Health-seeking behaviour among women-especially those residing in rural parts of Punjab-plays a critical role in defining maternal and reproductive health outcomes. This study looks at the many variables-such as socioeconomic level, caste, education, accessibility, affordability, family support, and cultural norms-that affect these behaviors. Data were collected from women in Punjab’s three main cultural regions-Majha, Malwa, and Doaba-using a multistage sampling technique, with an emphasis on Scheduled Caste (SC) and Non-SC groups. To choose a representative sample, four districts from each of the three zones were chosen using a multistage sampling technique. Each district’s two blocks and two villages yielded data, and each village had 20 respondents (10 SCs & 10 Non-SCs). The data demonstrate considerable discrepancies in healthcare access and use, with SC women confronting more hurdles, such as dependence on public transit, limited support from family members, and financial strain. Many women still rely on home cures and often wait until their disease worsens before seeking medical attention. Overall, the study underlines the need for culturally informed, equity-driven health policies and community-level activities to eliminate these inequities and encourage prompt, informed health-seeking habits among rural women in Punjab.