Chronic Diseases and Health Seeking Behavior among Tribal Communities in India

Abstract (English)

Chronic diseases pose a significant global health challenge, becoming increasingly prevalent in developing countries and disproportionately impacting marginalized communities. Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India consistently display lower developmental outcomes, particularly concerning health. This study examines the prevalence of chronic diseases specifically tuberculosis (TB), hypertension, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) among tribal populations in Odisha, which constitutes approximately 10 percent of India's tribal demographic. The present study utilised random sampling, 300 respondents were selected from three severely mining-affected communities predominantly inhabited by the Kisan, Munda, and Mundari tribes within Koida and Lahunipada blocks of Sundargarh district, Odisha, India. Findings reveal a notably high prevalence of chronic diseases, including hypertension, tuberculosis, and chronic kidney disease among the participants (26%). Principal contributing factors include tobacco and alcohol consumption, unhealthy dietary practices (particularly reliance on street foods), iron-contaminated drinking water, and air pollution from nearby mining activities. The study observed that; these tribes face unique hurdles like low literacy level, economic constraints, lack of awareness, and traditional cultural influences which significantly shape their health choices. The health-seeking behavior (HSB) indicates that a substantial proportion (68%) of respondents prefer treatments from Shamans and local healer (Baidya) who collects herbs, roots, leaves and bark from forest and prepare different ethno-medicines for the treatment of these chronic diseases. The outcomes of this locale treatments are highly positive among the respondents.