Estimating Mental Hygiene of Farm Women: The Socio-Ecological and Psychological Interpretation

Abstract

The health-ecology and ecosystem has become very much vulnerable due to constant pollution, extortion, ground water depletion, arsenic and heavy metal contaminated water. This study dealt with health ecosystem and health dynamics of farm women so that they can combat various ecological and occupational problems as they are provider of food. This study was conducted with objectives to generate classified information on the mental hygiene of farm women. A survey was carried out at Kotulpur Block in Bankura district of West Bengal with one hundred farm women as respondents and they were selected randomly. The data were collected through pilot study, structured interview and focused group interview. The statistical tools used for data analysis were correlation analysis, multiple regression and step-down regression analysis, path analysis, factor analysis and artificial neural network analysis. Twenty independent variables were selected for this study i.e. functional literacy, per capita income, menstrual hygiene, status of drinking water etc. Distance of work place from residence (x7), duration of employment (x9), per capita income (x12), per capita expenditure (x13), dizziness (x17) and status of drinking water (x19) are some of those variables which have made a significant impact on the mental hygiene of farm women. Among those variables, per capita income (x12) is the most important factor as it has exerted the highest indirect effect on as many as 13 exogenous variables to characterize the mental hygiene of farm women (y) in path analysis.