Attitude towards Health Care among Scheduled Caste Women: A Study among the Pasi of Rural Lucknow (India)

Women, in India, are considered they responsible for maintaining the health of the entire family and in the process, many a times they neglect their own health. Under the circmstance, it becomes pertinent not only to evaluate the health and hygiene status of the women, but also to understand their view and attitude towards the same and the level of awareness relating to various diseases and governmental efforts to improve health care thereof. The present paper attempts to do the same for the Scheduled Caste (Backward) women belonging to the Pasi community residing in village Sabhakheda and Kalli Pashchim of block Sarojininagar, district Lucknow. The Data collected primarily via indepth interviews has been substantiated by focused group discussions and observations made during the study. The study shows how illiteracy and half baked awareness, women of the community under study are totally ignorant towards community health and sanitation leading to severe health problems which could otherwise have been avoided. Furthermore their careless attitude towards treatment of various ailments is also one of the important causes for not using the various means provided by the government for improving health care of the masses.The paper ends with a few suggestions to better the situation.