Tribal groups are homogeneous and culturally rich in traditions. They have their own magico-religious health care system since time immemorial. The prevailing health care system has been found not only inadequate but also primitive in nature.
Maternal and child care are an important aspect of health care practices which are largely neglected among the tribal groups. On the basis of the studies of cultural values and social norms, the Anthropologists is in a position to explain to health personnel and administrators that how these traditional beliefs and practices conflicted with western medical assumptions; how socio-cultural factors influenced health, diseases; how cultural factors took care of health and cured illness; and how health and diseases are just aspects of total cultural patterns, which change in the company of broader and more comprehensive socio-cultural change.
In view of above, the study aims to identify the socio-cultural barriers in a tribal set up in adopting safe reproductive and child care practices and to suggest measures in planning the programmes in accordance with these understanding. The study is depended upon secondary and primary data both and selected areas are the villages of Bastar in Chhattisgarh.
In the present study, an attempt has been made to focus on knowledge, awareness and practices about health and its correlates among tribal women to identify the gaps of knowledge and to suggest a possible plan of action besides pointing out the debatable issues.
Maternal, Child Health, Socio-Cultural Change
