Health Status of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group Hill Korwa in Chhattisgarh

 

Rashmi Kujur

Ph.D. Scholar, School of Studies in Sociology, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, (C.G) 492010

 

INTRODUCTION:

As the World Bank report says that the healthy is a person who is not only free from all diseases and malnutrition but we can call healthy to those people who are well growing in their physical, mental and social area. That is the reason in human development concept all these categories are added. In India we can see the health of tribal society with concept of human development. In India life style, dietary pattern and social behaviour are prescribed by the deep rooted traditions these are more pronounced in the tribal areas where outside influences, education and urbanization are minimal (Chatterjee 1993). The health seeking behaviour of the tribal groups is supposed to be highly associated with their beliefs, customs and practices; since majority of the population in these societies are illiterates, poor and lack modern knowledge of health and hygiene (Pandey etal.2000).

 

Population and social structure including education, poverty and health related datas of census results shows that it is a challenge to maintain health and health facilities of tribal population. In tribal society contagious and non contagious diseases are found. Mostly the tribal groups are affected by contagious diseases like cholera, typhoid, malaria, jaundice, diarrhoea and tuberculosis and in the series of non contagious diseases they were suffer from cancer, certain genetic diseases like sickle cell anaemia and thalasemia and also there is found malnutrition and lack of health facilities and traditional health care among tribal groups. All these conditions make them vulnerable to be extinct in future. If we can talk about the Hill Korwa tribes the condition is seem to be very poor among them in the field of health status. The present paper deals with the health related issues of primitive tribal group of Hill Korwa and discuss about the vital statics. The paper is based upon the primary data collected from three villages of Jashpur dist of Chhattisgarh state. This paper is already presented in the national seminar organised by the sos in Sociology, Pt.R.S.U. Raipur (C.G.).

 

METHODOLOGY:

Study has been carried out among Hill Korwas of Manora block. 14 families from Gutkiya, 14 families from Harrapath and 28 families from Karadri village were randomly selected from each village. The total population of the entire three villages is 222(dist. Hand book) and total 56 families are selected and head of each household were interviewed for data collection through structured schedule. A few case studies were undertaken to supplement the observation. Secondary data is also collected from PHCs and previous researches.  

 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

The findings of the present study exhibit that health factors do have impact over administrative and development spheres of tribal society.


The results are presented in two sections the first deals with the general environmental and socio-economic condition of the Hill Korwa. The second is to examine their health status and also concerns about their knowledge, attitude and traditional practices related to health care.

 

(I) Socio-economic characteristics:

All the three villages are located more than 20km from the block headquarters and Gutkiya village located 10km from PHC and Harrapath village is approachable by foot only and Karadri is 12km far from PHC. Hill Korwas socio-economic status is primarily based on hunting and food gathering, semi agriculture, daily wage etc. Regarding family size it has been observed that nuclear family among the Hill Korwa respondents with a frequency of 96.25% and joint family occur with frequency of 3.75% (Sharma,2007). In the study it is found that considerable importance is given to widow remarriage in the society and the remarriage depends upon the consent of widow. Unhealthy and unsafe drinking water and food taking by them and lack of awareness towards personal hygiene is also noticed among them. They were taking bath in alternate schedules and also they don’t aware about the govt. projects specially made for them and also negligence is appear by the govt. side for application of the planning’s at root level. It is also found that about 99.9% Hill Korwa tribes were taking a homemade alcoholic drink which disturbs their health. The results of the study are presented in the following tables-

 

Table-1. Population Distribution of Gutkiya, Harrapath and Karadri Based on Age and Gender

S.No.

Age Group

Male

Female

Total

1.

Up to 15 year

33

37

70

2.

15-30

30

28

58

3.

30-50

25

23

48

4.

50-60

19

17

36

5.

Abov 60

06

04

10

 

Total-

113

109

222

 

The age and sex composition of the Hill Korwa is presented in table 1. The age structure of the Hill Korwa indicates that 14.8% of males and 16.6% females are less than 15 yrs and together both male and female contributes 31.5% of the total population which is under 15 years. A little decline in the population as age grows and there is seen more fluctuation after 30 years. The population is more declines after 50 years which means lower life expectancy among them.

 

In the present investigation it was found that 100% respondents are living in the Kutcha houses made of wooden slices called Batta, in  these houses 42.8% contains only one room and rest of houses contain two rooms. 85.7% are nuclear family and rest of families are joint family.

Table 02 Socio-Economic Status

S.

No.

Status

 

Frequency

%

1.

Type

of House

1.  Kutcha

2.  Puccha

56

-

100

-

Total -

56

100

2.

No.

of Rooms

1.  One

2.  Two

24

32

42.8

57.2

Total -

56

100

3.

Type

Family

1. Nuclear

2. Joint

48

08

85.7

14.3

Total -

56

100

4.

House Electrified

1. Yes

2. No

52

04

92.8

7.2

Total -

56

100

5.

literacy Level

1. Illiterate

2. Primary

3. Middle

4. H. School

5. H. Secondary 

27

15

06

07

01

48.2

26.8

10.7

12.5

1.8

Total -

 

 

5.

 

 

 

Land

(in Acers)

1.  No Land

2.  1 Acers

3.  1-2

4.  Above 3

25

17

11

03

44.6

30.4

19.6

5.4

Total -

56

100

6.

Monthly Income -

1  >500 Rs.

2. 500-1000

3. 1000-2000

4.   < 2000

23

14

07

12

41.1

25.0

12.5

21.4

 

Total -

56

100

7.

Source of Income -

1.  Agriculture

2.  Agri- Labour

3.  Forest Cultivation

15

18

23

26.7

32.2

41.1

Total -

56

100

 

It is also found in further studies that they will prefer mostly living in nuclear families in small clusters (Pandey and Tiwari, 1996). The reason for preferring nuclear family is to maintain family budget says the older person of the village.48.2% are illiterate and the no of drop outs are more after primary school, the reason is that the middle, high and higher secondary schools are far away from the village and also they their children participate in domestic works like caring of their younger children, cooking, collection of forest products and other works, as the literacy rate is not satisfactory it reflects in their health as they are not aware about the intake of healthy food and drinking water as well as they prefer traditional health practices.

 

If we talk about the agricultural land only 30.4% were have 1acres land and 44.6% are without land. Most of them are agriculture labour (32.2) and 41% prefer forest products collection as their occupation. The monthly income is also not found very satisfactory as 41.1% have less than 500 rupees per month, so we can say that the economic status is very poor among the Hill Korwas, which directly or indirectly affects their health status.

Table -3 Observation of health Care Measures of Hill Korwa

S.

No.

 

Frequency

%

1.

Place of Treatment

1.Folk Hiller

2.PHC

38

18

67.8

32.2

Total -

 

56

100

2.

Place of Del

1.PHC/ Hospital

2.Home Kumba)

05

51

8.9

91.1

Total

 

56

100

3.

Immunization

of New Born –

1.Yes

2.No

52

04

92.8

7.2

Total -

 

56

100

4.

Nourishment

of Children –

1.Malnurished

2.Normal

42

14

75

25

Total -

 

56

100

5.

Anaemic Patents    

1.Yes

2.No

49

07

87.5

12.5

Total -

 

56

100

Malaria Patients

(Last One year)

1.Yes

2.No

18

38

32.1

67.8

6.

Total -

 

56

100

Proper Antenatal and Postnatal Care

1.Yes

2.No

05

51

8.9

91.1

Total -

 

56

100

7.

 

 

Consumption

of Alcohol-

1.Yes

2.No

56

00

100

00

Total -

 

56

100

8.

 

Source of

Drinking Water

1.open well

2.water fall (Jhariya)

3.boring

18

30

 

08

32.1

53.5

 

14.2

Total -

 

56

100

 

II. Health Status:

Table no. 3 shows the health care practices of Hill Korwa tribes 67.8% were prefer treatment by folk hillers and only 32.2% were go to hospitals for treatment, it shows that how they are deeply rooted in their traditional practises and distance from PHC and lack of income and vehicle facilities is also  one of the reason for such practises. 91.1% women deliver their child in Kumba specially made for delivery and having traditional importance, shows the failure of government planning like janani suraksha yojna.           

 

Table No.4 Demographic Vital Rates Rates Among Hill Korwa 

S.

N.

Parameters

Hill Korwa

CG

India

1.

General Fertility Rate (GFR)

129.2

91.9

81.2

2.

Total Fertility  Rate (TFR)

3.01

1.9

2.4

3.

Crude Birth Rate (CBR)

28.23

24.5

21.6

4.

Crude Death Rate (CDR)

11.0

7.9

7.0

5.

Infant Mortality (IMR)

166

47

42

6.

Mean Age of Marriage (FEMALE)

15.05YRS

20.2

21.2

7.

Mean Age of First Conception

16YRS

-

-

Source-SRS and 2011 Census of India

 

75% children are malnourished and 87.5% are anaemic which may become the risk factors for increasing child death rate and also in further studies it was noticed that the CDR is very high among Hill Korwas. The consumption of alcohol is also decrease their health status and use of unsafe water for drinking is about 85.6% households were using water from open well and jhariya, which cause them ill from typhoid, hepatitis and cholera etc. The antenatal and post natal care is not found significantly in good condition which may cause higher infant mortality

 

Table 4 indicates the vital statics of demographic indicators among Hill Korwa. The TFR is 129.2 which is much higher than the national and states level it is because of early marriage which is again not satisfactory than the national and state rate. Due to conditions that we have discussed earlier in which the economic status and health status is not consider good which causes high CDR and IMR which are 11.0(CDR) and 166(IMR) per thousand births  among Hill Korwa shows higher rates than national and states CDR and IMR.

 

CONCLUSION:

Most of the population is illiterate and very poor. They are not adequately served by PHCs nor do they utilise the facilities available at the existing PHC or sub centres due to economic scenario is one of the reason for high fertility, high mortality and infant mortality rates. Extreme poverty and malnutrition, excess consumption of alcohol, poor sanitation, lack of safe drinking water, poor hygiene and lack of awareness about health and access to health care facilities resulting increased severity of disease and also the social barriers preventing utilization of available health care services. Thus, to conclude awareness and education which will connect them to the main stream are the basic necessity of the Hill Korwa society.

 

REFERENCE:

1.       Census of India, Registrar general and Census commissioner of India, New Delhi, 2011.

2.       Chatterjee, K.K., Health Status of Tribal Women, Social Change, Vol.23(4): 1993, pp.53-55

3.       District Statistical Handbook, District Statistical Officer, Jashpur, Chhattisgarh, 2013, p.47.

4.       Kerketta, R.A., Status of Women Fertility and Infant Mortality among the Hill Korwa of Jashpur District, Chhattisgarh, 2005,  p. 120.

5.       Kujur, Nister, Aadimjanjati Pahari Korwa, Singhai Publication, Raipur, C.G., 2011, P.41.

6.       Pandey, G.D. Tirkey, V.R. and Tiwary, R.S.,2000, Some Aspects of Health Seeking Behaviour of in Birhors – A Primitive Tribes of Madhya Pradesh, Journal of Man in India, 78(34): p. 291-299.

7.       Pandey, G.D. and Tiwary, R.S.; Man in India, December76 (4), 325, 1996,  p. 9.

8.      Sharma, S. Makol, N. and others, 2007 Socio-demographic Profile of Hill Korwas of Chhattisgarh, Indian J. prev. soc.med. vol. 38 No.3and4, June-Dec.2007,  p.179-183.

 

Received on 09.06.2014

Modified on 20.07.2014

Accepted on 28.07.2014

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Research J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 5(2): April-June, 2014, 191-193