Patterns of Health Modernity among Urban Women: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Health is an essential aspect of human life and Health Modernity is one of the important pillars of health. Both health and health modernity of a person are affected by his socio-economic determinants and these determinants are defined as the ‘non-medical factors of health’. Several studies on socio-economic determinants of health are done but the studies on how these determinants influence health modernity of people are scanty. Hence, the present study is planned to explore the patterns of health modernity among women based on socio-economic determinants in Meerut city of Uttar Pradesh. This study employs an exploratory research design. Purposive sampling technique is used to select 100 women as study sample so that it includes respondents from diverse socio-economic and educational backgrounds. Pre-designed interview schedule is used as data collection method and appropriate statistical techniques are used for data analysis. The findings of the study show that maximum numbers of respondents belong to young age group (21-30 years), are unmarried, are educated, and belong to higher social class. Physical health, reproductive health, and child care parameters scores assign a maximum numbers of participants in the medium to high scores category of health modernity extent. While in two parameters viz. nutrition & diet and family planning, majority of the participants fall in high scores category followed by medium one. It highlights that socio-economic determinants of women have little significant influence on their health modernity. Thus, this study underscores the critical role of socio-economic determinants in shaping health and health modernity among women. There is a string need to provide correct and scientific knowledge regarding health matters through health training programmes at grass-root level.