Exploring Women’s Health Care Facility in Meghalaya: Special Reference to Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Tribes

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)
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Exploring Women’s Health Care Facility in Meghalaya: Special
Reference to Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Tribes

1Dasanbha S. Mawlong, 2Dr. Jerina Begum,
1MA, Research Scholar, Department of Education,

University of Science & Technology Meghalaya (USTM), India
2MA, Ph.D. Psychology , University of Science & Technology Meghalaya, India

*Corresponding Author

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2025.120800273

Received: 23 Sep 2025; Accepted: 29 Sep 2025; Published: 04 October 2025

ABSTRACT

Meghalaya is a beautiful place covered by Hilly area of North East India. People face very challenges to reach
the health services because of transportation and other means of communication. Meghalaya’s health care
system for women represents interplay of traditional health practices, matrilineal social systems and
contemporary medical and health services. While the state, compared to other regions, enjoys a relatively
empowered status for women, challenges continue to persist regarding accessibility, awareness, and
infrastructure, especially in the rural and tribal areas (Srivastava, A et.al; 2015). Focus of this study will be on
identifying and analyzing the health care system among women, Meghalaya. Present study further examines
women's health care in Meghalaya, availability of maternal and reproductive health services, prevalence of
health problems like anemia, malnutrition, and the function of traditional healers in the community and the
health system. The study mentions government programs like Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) and
supported by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) while navigating through the gaps in
implementation and service delivery. Socio cultural, geographic isolation, and economic barriers are discussed
as important determinants affecting the access of women to quality health care. The present study is based on
secondary sources like the government data, NGO's activities on health, information from Google Scholar to
analyze the health care system among women in Meghalaya. Findings point toward the necessity of integrated
approaches combining modern medicine and health care system with culturally sensitive outreach programs
guaranteeing unbiased and inclusive health care for women in Meghalaya.

Keywords: Women, maternal health, reproductive health, traditional medicine, matrilineal society, Diseases,
PW, Meghalaya

INTRODUCTION

Meghalaya is a state which is part of Northeast India which was considers the “Abode of Clouds” due to heavy
monsoon and home of clouds. There were different cultural heritage and vast amount of language spoken
which signifies the diversity in the state. It is situated north of Assam and south close to Bangladesh .There are
mainly three tribes in Meghalaya which include Khasi, Jaintia and Garo. Though most of the state follows the
patrilineal society where most of the property moves from the father to the family members. Meghalaya is
matrilineal society where a woman holds the authority in the property and the finance. A woman holds the
right in terms of getting the lion’s share in the family.

Several public health facilities have been introduced like PHCs, CHCs and sub- centres, Women and Child
Hospitals and District Hospitals which gives various awareness programs in terms of malnutrition and
providing support and treatment to young women. The ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) are health
workers which play a role in a gap between maternal health and women from rural areas. There is still lot of
traditional healers like Ayurvedic which is still practicing in various household in the village. In Khasi
language (Nongai Dawai) who is a traditional healer is still a permanent healer for treating any person like

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pregnant women and old people.

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity” (World Health Organization (WHO) et. al; 1948). Maternal Health helps to address women living in

rural areas have poor socio-economic conditions and, therefore, low access to proper health care results in the
ill health of the children and suffers the capacity of mothers to lead full, productive lives both inside the
household and in the society.

Statement Of The Problem

The health status of women can therefore be measured using various indicators, and different culture and socio-
economic status can influence the interpretation of these indicators. Socioeconomic factors have an important
influence on women's health. The contributions of malnutrition, lack of proper health education, and lack of
treatment for diseases go a long way in denying rural women healthcare resources. Women living in rural areas
have poor socio-economic conditions and, therefore, low access to proper health care that results in the ill health
of the children and suffers the capacity of mothers to lead full, productive lives both inside the household and in
the society. In simple words, one common goal for maternal and child health nursing care can be described as the
promotion and maintenance of family health in an optimal way, so as to ensure optimal cycles of childbearing
and childrearing. Keeping these mind the researcher wanted to study about the health facilities of Meghalaya.
The statement of the problem is “women’s health care facility in Meghalaya: an analytical study.”

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Momin, B., & Dutta, P. (2021) has conducted a study on the maternal health- care infrastructure in
Meghalaya, a state in Northeast India. The state at present had a huge amount of population of 2,964,007
(Census 2011) where the state give full important to two public District Hospitals which are maternal health
services- the first one is the East Khasi Hills District and the other one in West Garo Hills District. The method
done on this study is through hospital- based mixed method which is carried out to recognize the problems
faced by women at the time of maternity period to assess and available of maternal care for women in
Meghalaya. The researcher conducts an interview on 80 pregnant women who are admitted in two District
hospitals of Meghalaya. The study done found out those women who are from rural areas admitted in hospital
did not receive any medical attention from clinics and dispensary. The study also reveal that women coming
for health check up suffer from various problems like travelling bad road, no proper public transport and
economic issue. To help lift up the health system in Meghalaya especially in the rural areas, the Government
had introduced various schemes for women and rebuilding the infrastructure for handling issue of maternal
care in Meghalaya.

Nongdhar, J., Vyas, N., Rao, P. A., Narayanan, P., & Pala, S. (2018) has done a study on Antenatal care
(ANC) as one of the basic components where it provide pregnant women with a broad scope of health
improvement and preventive health services. There are 830 women who died every year due to preventable
pregnancy, and 99% occur in developing countries, from which 20% of these death happen in India. The
objective of this study is to explore different factors influencing mother’s reproductive health services to find
any relation between various factors and reproductive health services. A study has been conducted in cross
sectional in January – June 2017 in 160 mothers who gave birth to babies with an age of 6 months in
Mawkyrwat Block, South West Khasi Hills District in Meghalaya. The data which is collected from the village
area is done through questionnaire. The results which are analyzed found out that four or more antenatal
checkup were 10.6%, where 53.5% of the pregnant women registered their first ANC checkups in the second
trimester and the other 57.5% were home delivery. The study done by the researcher found that there was less
utilization of the health care. There should be adequate health camp and dispensary to help improve the
reproductive health services.

Nakel, M. P., & Gattani, P. L. (2015) did a study on the role of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) in
promoting maternal health services. The government of India implements the National Rural Health Mission
(NRHM) on 5th April, 2005. The most important components of NRHM are to trained the female health

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activist. The objectives of NRHM: 1) to analyze on the role of ASHA in promoting institutional delivery. 2) To
conduct study on the control of ASHA for promoting maternal health services. The study done was undertaken
from two village health centre in Aurangabad District. There were a total of 659 respondent women and 26
ASHAs who were interviewed for collecting data. There was 799 birth from 2007 to 2012, out of which
28.03% were home deliveries and 71.9% were hospital deliveries. The result found that there was no
difference between home delivery and hospital delivery which did not involve ASHA as compared to those
with ASHA. The study found that many of the hospital delivery are higher in women promoting ANC.

Z Dutamo, N Assefa , G Egata (2015) investigated on the Maternal health care in Ethiopia in married women
which found out that maternal health should be adopt properly for women who are in pregnancy period to save
childbirth from internal death. There has been claimed that Maternal health service drop out due to lack of
support which is not known. The main aim of this study is to recognize how maternal health service can
develop the course of pregnancy and child birth. The method conducted in this study is based on cross-
sectional quantitative on 623 women at Hossaian town, South Ethiopia 2014. A questionnaire was used to
generate quantitative data using Focus Group Discussion (FGD). It had been found by the researcher that 87.6
% of women attended one antenatal care (ANC). There are 546 women who attended ANC, out of which
61.3% made the first visit during the second and third trimester of pregnancy and the other 49% had less than
four antenatal visits. The study also found that 62.6% were delivered by skilled practitioner and 51.4%
received one postnatal check up. Even when the maternal health care system in Ethiopia is high still they are
not adequate. Educating young women to help them engage in reproductive health affairs, strengthen the
maternal health care services which reduce early pregnancy and prevent danger in child death.

Falkingham, J. (2003) has done a study on the inequality and changes in women’s use of maternal health care
services in Tajikistan which found significant changes in the maternal health care resulting in the inequality of
access to that care. There is a link between poverty and women’s educational status and maternal health- care
are investigated. The survey found that there is decline in the use of maternal health care in Tajikistan. The
study shows that there is a change in the area for delivering birth which shifts from the medical facility to
home delivery. Women who are poor face home delivery more than rich caused of untrained assistant.

METHODOLOGY

The present study has been done on the basis of secondary sources like government data, NGO's activities on
health, information from google scholar to analyze the health care system among women in Meghalaya.

Objectives

1. To identify the health care institute in Meghalaya
2. To analyze the health care services in the health institute among women in Meghalaya

Delimitation of the Present Study

The study was limited to institutional services only. Data were collected from secondary sources and hospital
related data only. No information were collected from community level. No focus group discussion were
conducted to know the real fact of rural women and children. Secondary data were collected from district
hospitals only, no data were analyzed beyond the district hospitals i.e.Primary health center, CHC or sub
centers.

Health care Institute in Meghalaya

There are 12 government hospitals across the state of Meghalaya

Table 1.1 Health care Institute in Meghalaya

District Name of the Hospital

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1. Eastern West Khasi Hills Tirot Sing Memorial Hospital - Mairang

2. East Garo Hills Williamnagar District Hospital

3. East Jaintia Hills Khliehriat District Hospital

4. East Khasi Hills Ganesh Das Government MCH Hospital

5. North Garo Hills Resubelpara CHC

6. Ri bhoi District Nongpoh District

7. South Garo Hills Baghmara District Hospital

8. South West Garo Hills Ampati District Hospital

9. South West Khasi Hills Mawkyrwat District Hospital

10. West Garo Hills Tura Government MCH Hospital

11. West Jaintia Hills Jowai MCH Hospital

12. West Khasi Hills Nongstoin District Hospital

Government Schemes in Meghalaya

The Government, both at the Central and State level, have implemented various schemes with regards to
improvement of maternal health. These schemes aim at pushing state and nation, towards achieving the
various national goals as set by the National Health Policy (2017) and the global goals under the
Sustainable Development Goals (Goal 3). The Government schemes for improvement of maternal health
include:

Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK)

Government of India has launched JSSK on 1st June, 2011, which entitles all pregnant women delivering
in public health institutions to absolutely free and no expense delivery including Caesarean section. The

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initiative stipulates free drugs, diagnostics, blood and diet, besides free transport from home to institution,
between facilities in case of a referral and drop back home. Similar entitlements have been put in place
for all sick newborns accessing public health institutions for treatment upto 1 year after birth.

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) or The ‘Safe Motherhood scheme’ was
introduced in 2005, under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), in which the poor and
marginalized women are provided with an encouragement for delivering their child in public health
facilities. It is a conditional cash transfer scheme to promote institutional delivery in order to reduce mother
and child deaths.

Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS)

Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS): Launched on 15th December, 2012. It is a universal health
insurance scheme (UHIS) in the State of Meghalaya, utilizing the existing Rashtriya Swasthiya Bima
Yojana (RSBY) framework to provide health insurance people from Meghalaya in maternal health care to
1.6 lakhs especially pregnant women. Its objective to provide economic aid to all the citizens of the state
admitted in hospital to reduce the financial problem for people from rural area. The MHIS introduced various
surgical and secondary care which include critical care, oncology and other essential tertiary packages.

Analysis of health care institute among women in Meghalaya

Table .1 shows the total number of health care institute for women and women admitted in hospital of
different age group.

S.No DISTRICT &

FACILITY

IPD-FEMALE CHILDREN
<18 YEARS

ADULT FEMALE

<60YEARS

EASTERN WEST KHASI HILLS

1 Tirot Sing Memorial Civil Hospital 1024 4501

EAST GARO HILLS

2 Williamnagar Civil Hospital 321 2625

EAST JAINTIA HILLS

3 Khliehriat District Hospital 902 1712

EAST KHASI HILLS

4 Ganesh Das Govt.MCH Hospital 1596 13082

NORTH GARO HILLS

5 Resubelpara CHC 177 638

RI BHOI DISTRICT

6 Nongpoh Civil Hospital 904 3653

SOUTH GARO HILLS

7 Baghmara District Hospital 326 1047

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Source: HMIS Dashboard Report FY 2024-25 MOTHER APP portal

Table 1 represent the total number of health care institutes for women where Ganesh Das Govt.MCH Hospital
situated in Shillong have more women of 60 years admitted in hospital followed by Jowai MCH Hospital
.Whereas Jowai MCH Hospital from Jowai have more female children under 18 years of age admitted in
hospital followed by Ganesh Das Govt.MCH Hospital from Shillong.

Fig-1 Shows the District Wise Health care Services in Meghalaya
Fig-1 shows the total number of health care institute for women and children attend in district hospital .

Table 2: Shows the infection wise distribution of women Admitted and treated in the hospital in Meghalaya.

Infection Admitted Treated

S.N Khasi Jaintia Garo Khasi Jaintia Garo

1 Anemia 2305 2305 1153 233 233 117

2 Pregnancy 18312 18312 9157 9905 9905 4953

1024 321 902 1596
177

904 326 226
1226 536

2597
1515

4501
2625

1712

13082

638

3653

1047
1937

2796 3244

7301
4969

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IPD-FEMALE CHILDREN <18 YEARS

ADULT FEMALE <60YEARS

SOUTH WEST GARO HILLS

8 Ampati District Hospital 226 1937

SOUTH WEST KHASI Hills

9 Mawkyrwat District Hospital 1226 2796

WEST GARO HILLS

10 Tura MCH Hospital 536 3244

WEST JAINTIA HILLS

11 Jowai MCH Hospital 2597 7301

WEST KHASI HILLS

12 Nongstoin Civil Hospital 1515 4969

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3 TB 181 181 91 37 22 10

4 Surgery Done 2305 2305 1153 1297 1297 648

Table 2 presents the number of women are admitted and treated in hospital for Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribe
infection wise, like anemia, pregnancy, tuberculosis and surgery being done. It is found that women are
admitted and treated in the hospital with pregnancy related issues. It is observed that women from Khasi,
Jaintia have the highest number of pregnancy being treated while Garo it is less. Tuberculosis is a highly
threaten disease which affects many parts of the body is been treated in hospital. It is found that women from
Khasi and Jaintia tribe are admitted more for TB infection and treated in hospital Table reveals that number
of surgery done maximum treated were from both Khasi and Jaintia, whereas, Garo women are minimum that
coming for surgery.

Figure 2 shows the percentage-wise of women admitted and treated for Khasi Jaintia and Garo on anemia,
pregnancy tuberculosis and surgery been done. It has been reveal that the highest women admitted in hospital
for anemia, pregnancy, surgery and tuberculosis has been found in both Khasi and Jaintia while Garo it is less
in number. It also shows women treated in hospital for pregnancy has been found in Khasi, Jaintia and Garo,
where the highest women treated was found in Khasi and Jaintia while women were treated very less in Garo.

Table: 3 Shows the Man power and Services of Hospitals

2305 2305
1153 233 233 117

18312 18312

9157 9905 9905

4953
2305 2305

1153 1297 1297 648

Khasi Jaintia Garo Khasi Jaintia Garo

Admitted Treated

Anemia Pregnancy

TB Surgery Done

S.No District & Facility No. Of Doctors No of Nurses Number of
Surgery Done

Number of
Deliveries
of PW

EASTERN WEST KHASI
HILLS

1 Tirot Sing Memorial Civil
Hospital

16 50 87 2173

EAST GARO HILLS

2 Williamnagar Civil Hospital 30 4 15 1134

EAST JAINTIA HILLS

3 Khliehriat District Hospital 16 40 150 900

EAST KHASI HILLS

4 Ganesh Das Govt.MCH 73 180 800 7938

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Man
pow
er of

Hospitals

Table 3 shows the man power of district hospitals in Meghalaya, where different facility are having number of
doctors, nurses, surgery being done and deliveries for pregnant women. It shows the increase in the number of
doctors and nurses in Ganesh Das Govt MCH Hospital due to high infrastructure, building which requires
more employees. It also shows the number of surgery being done and labor delivery for women which is
slightly increasing in Ganesh Das Govt MCH Hospital compare to other hospitals.

Fig: 3 Shows the Man power of Hospitals

87 15 150 800 100 300 200 200 240 400 600 150
2173

1134 900

7938

151
1562

412 694 1128
2042

4533
2096

Doctors Nurses Sergery Done PW Deliveries

Hospital

NORTH GARO HILLS

5 Resubelpara CHC 24 3 100 151

RI BHOI DISTRICT

6 Nongpoh Civil Hospital 21 30 300 1562

SOUTH GARO HILLS

7 Baghmara District Hospital 18 50 200 412

SOUTH WEST GARO
HILLS

8 Ampati District Hospital 30 20 200 694

SOUTH WEST KHASI Hills

9 Mawkyrwat District Hospital 25 45 240 1128

WEST GARO HILLS

10 Tura MCH Hospital 71 125 400 2042

WEST JAINTIA HILLS

11 Jowai MCH Hospital 40 46 600 4533

WEST KHASI HILLS

12 Nongstoin Civil Hospital 20 50 150 2096

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Figure 3 shows the percentage manpower of hospital in Meghalaya, where in Shillong, Ganesh Das Govt.MCH
Hospital is having the highest number of labor delivery being done while, Jowai, Jowai MCH Hospital having
the decent amount of labor delivery in hospital. There are number of doctors and nurse available in the hospital
where Ganesh Das Govt.MCH Hospital is having the maximum number in total, whereas, Resubelpara CHC is
having minimum number in both categories. The figure also indicates that there was also increase in number of
surgery done for women in Ganesh Das Govt.MCH Hospital have got the highest number of women admitted
for surgery.

CONCLUSION

From the above discussion it can be concluded that , in spite of having matrilineal system, many women
especially in remote areas still suffer from early pregnancy, low nutrition and home delivery due to lack of
hospital and professional doctors and nurses in Meghalaya. Urban women are able to enjoy the modern
medical services in Shillong and Jowai, however the rural women are still deprived from the modern medical
health facilities. Government has implemented various schemes for women like the Janani Suraksha Yojana
(JSY) and Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme to reduce the ignorance and cultural believes which avoid
service delivery. Women still face problem till today in various parts of Meghalaya as well as in India due to
lack of support from family members which leads to drop out from school and financial issues. The Maternal
Health gives inclusive equitable support to young women and child to prevent any sickness like anemia,
malnutrition, TB and home delivery.

SUGGESTION

The suggestion need to be improving is the infrastructure in Meghalaya especially in rural areas as lack of
proper cleans sanitary for patients which prevent various sicknesses like typhoid, tuberculosis in the hospital.

 To prevent infection from TB, government should emphasized on nutritional services to the women
and children.

 There should be qualified doctors and nurse need for treating patients in terms of operation for pregnant
women, surgery and tuberculosis.

 The government should try to implement various schemes for pregnant women in less privilege areas
like Garo hills as there are fewer amounts of patients admitted in hospitals.

 Bhattacharyya and Pala (2012) in their study in East Khasi Hills Districts found that there is problem
for patients in the distance towards the health institutions which creates a barrier.

 As Sarkar et al. (2018) showed that patients from rural areas are having problems in getting treatment
from hospital in Shillong especially pregnant women due to finance, workload family pressure and bad
road which result to home delivery.

 Government should address the suggestions given by the researchers as per the issues.

REFERENCE

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of delivery among women in East Khasi Hills Districts of Meghalaya. J Evol Med Dent Sci
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2. Dutamo, Z., Assefa, N., & Egata, G. (2015). Maternal health care use among married women in
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