Health Status Evolution Among Arunthatiyar Community, of Pondicherry:
Swagat Sarkar*, Dr. Ajeet Jaiswal**
Department of Anthropology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 605014,
Email: sswagata1999@gmail.com
Phone no. 7418866235, 6291575145
Abstract:
Health & nutrition both play an important role in the growth and development of the human body. According to WHO (1948), health is not only about the absence of any disease but also the physical, mental, and social well-being of people. Nowadays different types of investigation are going on to examine the health and the health status of the population and also to know the health situation in India, especially, among tribal and in rural areas. The present paper evaluates the health status of the Arunthatiyar people of Pondicherry.
A total of 44 subjects were studied in that area within 11 days, by using several anthropometric measurements like, height, weight, Body Mass Index(BMI), Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC), waist circumference, hip circumference, chest circumference (normal, inhale, and exhale), bicondylar humerus and bicondylar femur and to get detailed anthropological information about those people, their personal information, food habits, health-related information; were collected using several anthropological techniques like Observation and Interview. The result of the initial analysis states that the present analysis was still facing several health-related issues like body pain, frequent dizziness, tiredness, etc, all these symptoms were related to poor nutrition, and even the socio-economic condition was also highly poor. Present findings clearly show that this health and nutritional status were not up to the mark. Special attention must be given either by the government or NGO or by themselves, otherwise, it will be highly perilous.
Key Words: Health, WHO, Health condition, Pondicherry, economic condition.
