Indian women undergo hysterectomy: A study has revealed what is the health condition of women in our country at present. A recent study published in the Journal of Medical Evidence shows that 4.8% of Indian women aged 25 to 49 have undergone hysterectomy, with the highest prevalence among agricultural workers at 6.8%.
This worrying trend highlights socio-economic and occupational inequalities, especially for agricultural workers due to the hard work and exposure to pesticides. It is most often used to address conditions such as excessive menstrual bleeding (55.4%), fibroids (19.6%), or hysteritis (13.9%).
The study also revealed regional variations, with the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana recording the highest prevalence rates of 12.6% and 11.1% respectively, while Assam had only 1.4%. Furthermore, 67.5% of these surgeries are performed in private health facilities, raising ethical concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable women for profit. Government health insurance schemes, which aim to improve access to healthcare, are reportedly misused in some states like Bihar and Chhattisgarh, leading to unnecessary surgeries.
socio-economic factors
Play an important role in this. Rural women are 30% more likely to have a hysterectomy than urban women. Education also influences this trend, as women with lower education levels are more vulnerable, while wealthier but less educated women are more able to afford the procedure. Age and parity determine things, with women aged 40-49 and women with 3 or more children being at higher risk. Overweight women are also more likely to have surgery than underweight women.
The study emphasizes the urgent need for policy intervention to address these inequalities.
Recommendations include improving the public healthcare system, increasing access to gynecological consultation, and increasing awareness about menstrual and reproductive health to reduce reliance on invasive surgeries. Strict monitoring of private healthcare practices and insurance plans is necessary to prevent unethical practices. In addition, it is important to improve working conditions in the labor-intensive sector and control harmful exposures such as pesticides.
of this study The results show how important preventive care and early diagnosis are to prevent unnecessary hysterectomy and its long-term effects (menopause, osteoporosis and cardiovascular risk). Researchers advocate for empowering women by providing them with information about their health and treatment options. It is important to understand that hysterectomy is the last resort, to avoid this you should be aware of women’s health in advance.
