Volume : II, Issue : X, October - 2013

Health Seeking Behaviour of the Tribal Communities in Southern Rajasthan

Dr. Shyam S. Kumawat

Abstract :

About 635 tribal groups and subgroups including 75 primitive tribes live in India. The state of Rajasthan occupies sizeable position in the tribal map of India having five major tribes i.e., Bhil, Meena, Garasia, Damor, Sahariya. The tribes comprise one of the most excluded sections of the society. They are excluded in social, cultural, economic and political areas of development. Health though is a social concept but in a tribal society it has its cultural dimensions also. The common beliefs, traditional customs, myths, practices related to health and disease influence the health seeking behavior of autochthonous people. The health of an average Indian tribal is found to be much poorer compared to the non–tribal counterpart because of the isolation, remoteness and being largely unaffected by the developmental process going on in India. Tribal communities in general and primitive tribal groups in particular are highly disease prone. Also they do not have required access to basic health facilities. They are most exploited, neglected and highly vulnerable to diseases with high degree of malnutrition, morbidity and mortality. Their misery is compounded by poverty, illiteracy, ignorance of causes of diseases, hostile environment, poor sanitation, lack of safe drinking water and blind beliefs, poor maternal and child health services, ineffective coverage of national health and nutritional services, etc. are the major contributing factors for dismal health in tribal communities.

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Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijsr  

Cite This Article:

Dr. Shyam S. Kumawat / Health Seeking Behaviour of the Tribal Communities in Southern Rajasthan / International Journal of Scientific Research, Vol.2, Issue.10 October 2013

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