Sexual and reproductive health practices: a study of two Muthuvan Kudys in Edamalakudy Kerala

Abstract

Sexual and reproductive health is an integral part of human life. The field of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) is different from other components of health because they vary in practice according to the culture and are conditioned by beliefs, values and customs of each community. There exist lots of indigenous practices related to reproductive and sexual health among different communities. Some of these practices may have adverse affect on health but many surely do enrich the health of women and children. Understanding such practices and culture in an indigenous community is mostly an under explored area of research and at times a difficult task, since, for that one need to go deeply in to that culture with an emic perspective. The actor oriented interpretive approach adopted in this research generalises how people attach meaning to objects through the process of experience and interaction. The research tries to bring out the sexual and reproductive health practices of Muthuvan women. The norms and customs they have been practicing are now undergoing changes due to the interface with external interventions which has forced the women to negotiate with their local customs and practices. This may lead to discontinuity with one system in which they are already involved and a continuity with another system. Therefore, this study attempts to understand the challenges they face while passing through different experiences as the adaptation process occurs in This kind of continuity and discontinuity does occur in every community. The process of continuity and discontinuity is perceived in terms of shifts in people s experiences in the changed contexts. In a community that lives together and interacts with one another in close proximity such interactions facilitate knowledge sharing, acceptance of others perceptions and sharing of experiences leading to a modified way of processing the system. This helps to develop a mutual interdependence within the system, which is fostered through interaction and negotiation.