Prevalence of female infertility and its socio-economic factors in tribal communities of Central India.

INTRODUCTION The Khairwar tribe of India is dwindling due to infertility and migration. The study investigates an extensive infertility problem among Khairwar and non-Khairwar tribes in the same geographical area. The objective of the study was to determine for the first time the prevalence of infertility in these two tribal groups. METHOD The study was carried out in the Kusmi block of the Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. The data were collected by trained investigators through a structured interview scheduled in April 2002. A total of 1305 people were studied from 284 households. Of a population of 778 people, 133 eligible couples belonged to the Khairwar tribe; out of a population of 527 people, 99 eligible couples belonged to non-Khairwar tribes. RESULTS The prevalence of infertility of the study population was 33 (14.2%) out of 232 women. In the Khairwars, infertility was found in 23 (17.2%) significantly higher than in non-Khairwars--10 (10%). The mean age of infertile women among the Khairwars was 31.3 +/- 8.9 years and 27.5 +/- 9.2 years among non-Khairwars. The average duration of marriage of infertile women in the Khairwars and non-Khairwars was estimated as 14.9 +/- 7.7 years and 11.1 +/- 7.9 years respectively. CONCLUSION The prevalence of infertility is higher in the Khairwars compared with non-Khairwars. It is suggested that further study needs to determine the causes and necessary interventions.