Publisher's Synopsis
Despite rising prosperity for some groups, recent years have seen further declines in the standard of living of the poorest. A major question remains in the relationship between social and economic change and changes in the basic dimensions of wellbeing. Health is a fundamental aspect of wellbeing and rural women are the most vulnerable group. The book discusses the health situation of women in rural India and includes original research results. It explores the continuing effects of culture in the health care behaviour and in the utilization of health care service. The major emphasis of the book is on socioeconomic and cultural factors influencing maternal and child health care practices and the reproductive health of rural women. The book is based on a framework adopted from McCarthy and Maine - but its original contribution is in the differentiation between cultural and socio-economic factors.
