Utilisation of Health Care Services among Rural Landless Agricultural Labourers in Buldana District of Maharashtra, India

Volume : IV, Issue : IV, April - 2015

Dr. Bharat S Thakare, Prof. Shankar Das

Background: The landless agricultural workers constitute the most neglected class in Indian rural structure and

are the poorest of the poor who are mainly unskilled and unorganized. Being landless labourers they work in the

farm of others where the working environment put an excessive burden on their health.

Objectives: The major aim of this study was to explore the prevalent health problems among the rural landless agricultural labourers and

their health care preferences. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in nine villages of Buldana District

of Maharashtra. The quantitative data were collected from April 2013 to May 2013 by using face to face semi-structured interviews. Results:

Almost all respondents were belonged to Hindu or Buddhist religion and 50 percent were Schedule Caste population. Majority (63 percent) of

the respondents were suffering from at least one health problem. Most common health issues reported were joint pain, injury, skin diseases,

malaria, typhoid, diarrhoea, haemorrhoids etc. A substantial 57 percent of the respondents indicated that during any ailments they solely

preferred private health care institutions over public. All respondents reported a greater preference for the Allopathic system of health care

against other alternative systems such as Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani. The drivers of such health care preferences were accessibility,

availability, fast relief and the quality of health services.

Conclusions: Despite various national health policies and initiatives by the Government of India the health status of the poor under privileged

population is regrettably low characterized by non-availability, and sub-standard of care in rural areas.