Health, Medicine, and Nutrition of the Tribals

Book excerpt: Much has been written about primary health care in rural India, however research on primary health care in tribal India still needs attention. Tribals in India still continue to suffer from digestive, skin, respiratory and nutritional disorders. This is especially the case amongst women and children. The recent studies by the Tribal Research and Training Institute of Maharashtra. Pune, have demonstrated that malnutrition amongst tribal children below the age of five years is 92 per cent and as high as 70 per cent amongst tribal women. The problem of tribal health and nutrition is linked with social, economic and educational status of the tribals. This book presents issues of concern in tribal health, nutrition and medicine. It provides recommendations to resolve tribal health, nutrition and medicine issues. The book will be useful to students of anthropology, sociology, health sciences, social work, tribal and general readers. Contents: Tribal People in the Indian Context and the Bhils, Nature and Role of Ethnomedical Specialists, Changing Circumstances, Current Health Needs of the Bhils, Recommendations for the Future.