The objective of this chapter is to explore the gender dimensions of healthcare services with reference to reproductive health behaviour in India, par-

ticularly in the state of Jharkhand. In India, females experience more illness

than males and are less likely to receive medical treatment before the illness

advances. Females are particularly susceptible to illness because their nu-

tritional status is compromised by unequal access to food, heavy work de-

mands and special nutritional needs. Women, especially poor women and

those who belong to socially disadvantageous section, such as Scheduled

Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) are often trapped in a cycle of ill

health exacerbated by childbearing and hard physical labour, with most

maternal deaths in India occurring between the ages of 15 and 29 years,

which are the prime childbearing years. There is wide prevalence of postnatal

depression among women: as many as one in five women suffers from

depression after giving birth (Patel et al. 2004). Mothers with poor mental

health result in severe consequences for the growth and development of

their infants and children. Their health status is inextricably bound up with

social, cultural and economic factors that influence all aspects of their life,

and have consequences not only for the women themselves but also for

the wellbeing of their children, the functioning of the households and the

distribution of resources. The poor health of Indian women is a matter of

concern at both national and individual level. Improving women’s health is

economically beneficial, as interventions to improve women’s reproductive

health are very cost-effective. Among the different reproductive age groups, the adolescent age group

(10-19 years) is very important; it is the starting phase in the reproductive

span of an individual. Demographically, adolescents are future parents and hold the key to future demographic patterns. As adolescents undergo biological, social and psychosocial changes they experience considerable stress and strain. The main physical changes during this period include adolescent growth spurt, general growth, growth of secondary sex organs, sexual characteristics, changes in body composition and growth of respiratory, circulatory and muscular system (WHO 1977). The relationship between early marriage and sexual and reproductive health risks among adolescents were studied by Santhya et al. (2008). Adolescent fertility in India occurs mainly within the context of marriage, with over half of all women aged 15 to 19 years having experienced pregnancy or childbirth (Jejeebhoy 1996).