“Inequalities and Dynamics in Health of Indian Tribal Women; An Empirical Perspective

Health is an important indicator of socio-economic development of any society. The studies of social inequalities, particularly those of health have received growing attention in all modern nation-states today. It has become a concern, owing to the deteriorating quality of life of women population of the third world countries. This paper focuses on the inequalities, disparities and dynamics in health status and health care of tribal women; a marginalized group of India. Data have been gathered from women respondents randomly selected from 141 families of three prominent tribes viz. Koraga, Marati Naika, and Kudubi. The field work was conducted in Udupi district of coastal Karnataka in Southern India during 2010-2012, fully supported by the minor research project of University Grants Commission, Government of India.

The paper seeks to address health care, early marriage practice, reproductive health status, awareness about small family norm, housing conditions and health, role of media in health, awareness, utilization of medical facilities, habits and health etc. The paper explores that health of tribal women is affected by many inter-related socio-economic and cultural factors. The study reveals that women in general and tribal women in particular are the worst sufferers. Despite modernization, medicalization, globalization, marked improvement in global health and other ongoing developmental processes, the exposure of tribes in general and tribal women in particular, to modern system of medicine is not significant. The paper explores the paradoxes of continuity study and change in the tribal health care practices and interventions. This could also be observed as the contrast between ethnicity and modern-post modern changes. Thus different patterns and levels of health inequalities could be identified among Indian tribal women. The findings will be a contribution to Medical Sociology, Sociology of Gender Studies, Social Anthropology, and to the health of tribal women.