The concept of reproductive health implies that couples have choice' and ability to reproduce, to control their fertility and to practice and enjoy sexual relationship. Reproductive health is not only to be conceived as a state of reproductive process free from disease and disorder. Safe motherhood and Family planning are two vital components of reproductive health. Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs), Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), Unsafe abortion, Genital mutilation are most underlying causes of reproductive ill health of women. The reproductive health issues of women in India are very complex. The reproductive issues of women revolve around the complex web of gender Relations and power structures. The reproductive health issues of Indian women are sexuality, maternal mortality and abortion, male involvement, domestic violence which are not often appropriately highlighted. In India, various cultural, social and economic factors influence reproductive health of women. In this book, these socio-cultural dimensions of reproductive health have been critically analysed. Eminent social scientists and demographers of India have contributed empirical articles on various issues of reproductive health of women. This Book is a masterpiece of its kind.
R.N. Pati (born in April 1954) is an eminent Social Anthropologist cum Demographer by profession. He has worked among tribes, peasants, slum dwellers and back ward groups of Orissa over a period of twenty years. Currently he is Assistant Director, Population Research Centre, Bhubaneswar. As a demographer he has contributed significantly in the field of tribal health, evaluation of health and family welfare programmes in Orissa. He has also visited Kualalampur, Malaysia and Honolulu, USA on a Fulbright Project assignment in 1982.
He is an eminent Social Worker of Orissa. He has been actively associated with activities of various institutions in different capacities. He has visited several foreign countries like USA, Norway, Netherlands and participated in different international conferences, i.e., 20lh World Conference of SID on "World or Several", Amsterdam May 1991, ECO-92 Public Forum, May 1991, Amsterdam, SO'MULA World Congress on "Environment, Health and Life Style" June 1991 Oslo, Norway, South Asia Regional Conference on Policies and Strategies for Sustainable Development in South Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh, November 1990.
He is Honorary Executive Director of Council for Tribal and Rural Development (CTRD) a leading NGO of Orissa. He was the Professional Associate to East-West Population Institute, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA in 1982. At present, he is Secretary General, Society for International Development of Bhubaneswar Chapter. He worked as Consultant Anthropologist to NORAD in 1981 and 1987 for the project, Development of Traditional Fishing villages in Northern Balasore. He worked as Consultant anthropologist to various national and international agencies. He has directed a good number of research projects sponsored by National . Commission for Women, New Delhi, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi, Harijan and Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Orissa. He has edited twelve books. His other books are Population Family and Culture (1987), Tribal Development in India (1989), Health and Family Welfare Services in India (1989), Aged in India (1989), Tribal Demography in India (1990), Health, Environment and Development (1991), Rehabilitation of Child Labourers in India (1991), Reproductive Child Health (2002) and Tribal and Indigenous People of India: Problems and Prospects (2002).
He was honoured with prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhawana Award 2003 as the Best Scientist of the year 2003 Orissa by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, New Delhi.