Reviewing disease burden among rural Indian women

The disease burden of rural Indian women is reviewed by utilizing the data from the 'Survey of Causes of Death (rural)' annual reports of Registrar General of India supplemented with National family health survey (NFHS-II). The review indicates that bronchitis and asthma are the leading causes while prematurity and heart attacks are second and third respectively. Most of the maternal deaths are concentrated in the age group 20-24 and bleeding is the main cause of maternal death. Tuberculosis of the lungs, malaria and burns are also important causes of death in the early reproductive ages. Rate of suicide, burn, and anaemia diminishes with age. Though nationwide health plans have succeeded in reducing the fatality of women's diseases to a entrain extent, there is however, a great need for improved and effective area-specific health programs to achieve the desired goals