International Institute for Population Sciences
Deemed to be University (An Autonomous Organization of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India)

Reproductive health is a fundamental right for individuals, especially for women. This research explores the complex dynamics of reproductive health in the Paudi Bhuiyan tribe; those belong to a vulnerable tribal group of Odisha. With a focus on reproductive health, the research investigates factors influencing the marriage age among women and assesses the subsequent implications for maternal and child health outcomes. The study was conducted in three villages in the Barkote block of Deogarh district, Odisha (India). Data were collected through in-depth personal interviews with 120 ever-married women between the ages of 18 to 35, using a stratified purposive sampling method. The result suggests that there is a positive correlation between age at marriage and the hemoglobin level (r = 0.340, p< 0.01), age at first pregnancy (r = 0.844, p< 0.01), women's weight during the first pregnancy (r = 0.407, p< 0.01), and weight of the child after birth (r = 0.258, p< 0.01). Similarly, a strong negative relationship between the total numbers of children a woman has during her reproductive years and the occurrence of miscarriage and stillbirth. Furthermore, factors such as socioeconomic conditions, education, and women's decision-making capacity also influenced reproductive health outcomes. Keywords: Reproductive health, Paudi Bhuiyan tribe, Women, Maternal health, Child health