Women’s health and the role of internal environment: evidence from India’s National Family Health Survey-3 (2005-06)

Ashok Kumar, Population Council

The health status of an individual is evidently the consequence of the interplay and integration of two major ecological considerations, the internal environment and the external environment. The residential environment is a very crucial universe not only for physical development but also for psychological and social behaviour. A Woman plays a vital role towards the promotion of environmental behaviour in the residential setting but at the same time she is the most affected victim in this environment. This paper highlights the health needs of women in the Indian society. Analysis shows that women are at a greater risk of a number of health problems related to reproductive roles. Some of the environmental factors affecting women’s health are malnutrition, pollution at home, and strain due to multiple roles and incompatibility. These factors have been taken into account for the analysis and findings.