In the last decade, several international and national movements have focused their attention, on the long neglected areas of women's reproductive health.

While the world's major killer disease, smallpox, that used to claim millions of lives has been eliminated, the planet has been struck with a more dreaded disease, AIDS or Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome.

Lack of systematic date from India regarding an important aspect of women's mental and reporductive health necessitates an in depth evaluation and assessment of this area.

There is a growing recognition that gynaecological morbidity is an important health problem among poor women in India.