USAID: Health Issues and Health Seeking Behaviour of Tribal Population in Jharkhand

[Jharkhand News]

Jharkhand is home to over 30 tribes constituting 26.3 percent of the total population of the state, as per Census of India, 2001. Due to the gaps in information available on the health practices and service utilization of the tribal population in Jharkhand, there have been constraints in addressing their requirements through appropriate policy measures and service delivery. The second phase of the Innovations in Family Planning Services Project (IFPS) focuses on improving access to affordable quality family planning, reproductive and child health services. Creating demand for reproductive health services and products, as well as stimulating health behaviour change is one of the key focus areas of the IFPS project.

We are glad that the Government of Jharkhand in collaboration with ITAP (IFPS-II Technical Assistance Project) has taken this pioneering initiative to carry out a comprehensive qualitative assessment study to understand and analye the health seeking behaviour of the major tribal groups, with a focus on the traditional system of healing. The study looks at identifying the key behaviours, traditional rituals, beliefs, practices and remedies (specifically related to reproductive and child health) followed by the Santhal, Munda, Oraon and Ho tribal groups, in the Santhal Pargana and South Chhotanagpur regions.

There has also been an attempt to grasp the interplay of the physical and political environment within which these select tribal groups live. The report explains the underlying barriers of geographic access, economic constraints and specific cultural issues which need to be addressed to improve health service utilization by the tribal groups. We are confident that this study will help boost and guide the state initiatives in ensuring ‘Health for all’.

Kerry Pelzman
Director Office of Population, Health and Nutrition USAID/India

[dhunisoren]

It is really sad but not surprising that the state and central governments have no information about the health care needs and tradtional health care practices of tribal people of India and in particular of Jharkhand even after 63 years of Independence. This is because they have treated the tribal and other marginalised and deprieved people as second class citizens through Internal Colonialism and have exploited and deprived them of their rich resources in the name of the greater good of the nation.
They are still isolated and live far from the access of the modern health care provisions.This is so because of the poor infrastructure of roads, transportation and lack of electrucity supply and education.
The literacy among them is still low inspite of opening many schools in village areas. The health care provisions in the tribal areas are inadequate and the health care centres and hospitals are poorly equipped and not fully staffed. The health care workers are generally from outside the areas and do not speak their language and have no motivation to live and work in those areas due to lack of modern aminities for them and their families.
As regards the tribal people, they have well established health care practices with herbal remedies but unfortunately they are not organised and documented and still have myths and prejuduces about modern health practices which need pispelling by education and dedicated health workers.
Apart from these poverty amongst them need to be tackled for them to be able to afford the modern treatment.
But first and foremost the governments should go to these people and find out their health care needs and negotiate the best possible measures to help them without upsetting their traditional practices, some of which are still valid and useful.
Dhuni Soren