Illness and Treatment among the tribal populations.

What is it about?

The paper examines the illness conditions, degree and how these conditions are addressed. Considering that culture and religion shape the demographic and health outcomes of people, and this article has tried to seek a deeper understanding of morbidity and health-seeking behaviour by categorising the ST into four tribo-religious groups: namely, Hindu ST, Christian ST, Indigenous ST and the rest along ethnicity and religion lines. The study found evidence of an early epidemiologic transition in tribal areas and associated increase in the incidence of chronic and lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma. Other emerging concerns are the prevalence of high untreated morbidity, dependence on private healthcare providers and increasing dependence on pharmacists among the ST.

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Photo by Parij Borgohain on Unsplash

Photo by Parij Borgohain on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study examines the prevalence of acute and chronic morbidities and treatment-seeking behaviour among the Scheduled Tribes in India. Second wave of India Human Development Survey (IHDS-2) data, 2011–2012, has been used in the study. Most marginalised populations remain excluded from many services, opportunities and resources that are instrumental in improving living conditions and ensuring healthy lives. Therefore, it becomes imperative to understand how the odds of access to resources are overcome to create an enabling environment for health care.

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