Indigenous people rely for generations on their own traditional concepts of health and healing system but after independence, with advent of rapid changes in health sector and in recent time with special emphasis on medicine of indigenous people, there occur changes in concept, belief and practices. But the changes are less explored, which is required, especially to minimize the existing inequalities in health status and health care access. In view, the objectives of the present study are to explore the concept of health and illness across generations and to explore health belief and practices across generations.
A total of 422 adult Santals living in both rural (Bankura) and urban (Howrah) areas of West Bengal were interviewed for the study. The data includes demographic, socio-economic characteristics of the participants along with concepts, belief and practices regarding health and illness. A well-tested questionnaire was used to collect data. Continuity and change across age groups was explored with standard statistical tool.
The findings revealed, study participants live both in rural and urban areas with varied socio-economic condition, where traditional healer as nearby health provider was reported by only rural people. Concept of health and illness remain similar across generations and across area of living, also, belief in traditional healer was prevalent in the community but there remain differences in practices, where a good percentage of rural people visited traditional healer, female of either area and generations had faith on ayurvedic and astrology and urban people although had faith on traditional healing system, especially in case of ailments created by supernatural powers, visited them rarely.The finding highlights the importance of generating awareness in community and also to incorporating their traditional knowledge and skill in modern health care system.
