Delhi: National Association of Reproductive and Child Health in India (NARCHI) organised two days long 26th annual conference at Safdarjung Hospital’s auditorium in New Delhi.
The unique theme of this ongoing conference was “The postpartum period: the crucial six weeks” where experts and doyens of the fields are discussing the disorders which happen in postpartum period which is six weeks after the delivery of child.
Women encounter several physical and psychological problems in this period which are often neglected.
In a study which was led by Dr Achla Batra at Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, it was found that about 15 per cent of women suffer from stress urinary incontinence after delivery which can be addressed by teaching pelvic exercises.
In another study which was led by Dr Monika Gupta on occurrence of urinary problems in the postpartum period, it was found that about 12 per cent of women undergoing caesarean section and 6 per cent women undergoing normal vaginal delivery may develop unnoticed urinary retention which needs to be dealt promptly to avoid long term adverse consequences.
Another study to know the incidence of postpartum depression is currently going on at this institute.
The conference has been preceded by four pre-conference workshops on Menstrual Hygiene Management at Safdarjung hospital, Knot and Suturing at Safdarjung Hospital, Basic Infertility at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Postpartum Haemorrhage Management at Railway Hospital, Delhi.
Young delegates were trained in these important fields during the workshops. There was also an expert group meeting at Safdarjung Hospital on November 21 which was attended by 23 experts from premier medical institutes from both government and private sector from all over Delhi.
It included Dr Ajay Khera, Commissioner, Maternal and Child Health, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to discuss development of guidelines for Menstrual Hygiene management. He highlighted that the school drop-out rate by females in rural India is as high as 80 per cent due to period poverty i.e lack of proper menstrual hygiene facilities.
So, there is a need for awareness, acceptability, increased use of environment friendly, low cost and bio-degradable menstrual hygiene products which are suitable for all age groups of females.
