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© Kamla-Raj 2004 Stud. Tribes Tribals, 2(1): 1-8 (2004)
Tribal Population and Health in Rajasthan B.L. Nagda Population Research Centre,
Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur 313 001, Rajasthan, India KEY WORDS Son of soil; demography; reproductive life span; health ABSTRACT The tribal are, hunters, forestland cultivators and minor forest prodcut collectors, lived in isolation with near to nature hence, called son of soil. The impoverished economy effect population growth, literacy, sex ratio, pregnancy procedure and health care. The growth rate of tribal population was highter than the growth rate of total population of the state. About 12.4 percent of the entire population of the state belongs to scheduled tribes. Five districts Viz. Udaipur, Banswara, Dungarpur, Jaipur and Sawaimadhopur together contributed two third of the state's tribal population. The sex ratio of tribal population was higher than the general population. No discrimination of sex of birth in the tribes. The position of literacy among tribal of Rajasthan is extremely poor, and more so in the case of female literacy. Most of tribal use their children for ancillary services, child laborers is common in the tribes. A tribal woman produced 4.3 children during her reproductive life but they want only 2.7 children and consider on an average 2.9 children as ideal in their family. The tribal maintain sufficient space between births of two children. The infant and child mortality was higher in the tribes. The major causes of infant and child mortality in tribes were acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea and anaemia. Tribal practices different type of diagnosis and treatments during illness of person. The interference of supernatural agency is particularly strong in context of health and disease. The dependency on super naturals is responsible for the non-acceptance of modern medicine. The decision about the nature of treatment taken at the community level because of traditional health care system and treatment are based on their deep observation and understanding of nature. More than half of tribal mothers were not accepted antenatal care during their pregnancy because, it is not necessary and customary. About 86 percent deliveries performed at their home and three fourth of deliveries conducted by untrained Dais and other untrained persons. Few numbers of mothers started breast-feeding within one hour of birth and 74 percent of the mothers squeezed first milk from breast. The complete immunization of children was only 10.3 percent among the tribes. Majority of women had BMI below 18.5, indicating higher nutritional deficiency among tribal women. More than half of women and three fourth of children were suffering from anaemia. About 42 percent of tribal women suffered from one of the symptoms of reproductive tract infections. The health conditions in tribal present an alarming situation. At the time of delivery, prefer to cut the naval cord with a bamboo strip because it is safer from infections. The supplementary food is given to child after 5-6 months. The operation of laparoscopy and vasectomy was popularly termed Nasbandi. Tribal have deep knowledge about indigenous methods of birth control. They used several types of forest products and Jadibuties (Herbals) for controlling the birth as well as removing the sterility. The medical facilities in the tribal areas are just rudimentary. There is no proper link road between the tribal villages and health centres. Tribal are economically hand to mouth and no provision of free medicine and treatment except some diseases like malaria, polio, diarrhea, T.B. etc. The entire development programme in tribal areas is running separately. There is no integration between different development programme. For improving the level of literacy, nutrition and health condition, adequate infractructure facilities needed. For uplifting economic status of tribes, new job avenues needed based on agriculture, forest, forest productions etc. and industries needed to establish in tribal areas based on tribal resources.
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