Health-seeking behaviour and determinants among tribal communities in a rural district of West Bengal.

Chiranjib  Murmu; Bijay Kumar  Murmu; Rita  Tudu

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i5.2038

Authors

Chiranjib Murmu Assistant Professor, Department of Radiodiagnosis, Diamond Harbour Government Medical College & Hospital, West Bengal, India
Bijay Kumar Murmu Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Purulia Deben Mahata Government Medical College & Hospital, West Bengal, India
Rita Tudu Senior Medical Officer, Department of Microbiology, Diamond Harbour Government Medical College & Hospital, West Bengal, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i5.2038

Keywords:

Tribal health, Health-seeking behaviour, Rural healthcare, Accessibility, West Bengal

Abstract

Background
Aim: To assess the health-seeking behaviour of rural tribal populations in the district of Bankura, and to identify the key factors influencing their healthcare utilization patterns.

Methods
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 522 adult tribal participants. Data were collected using a structured, pre-tested interview schedule focusing on demographic details, healthcare preferences, access to services, and perceived barriers. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0, with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests applied. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors of modern healthcare utilization.

Results

Most participants were aged 31–45 years, with a near-equal gender distribution. Belief in traditional healers was moderate in 44%, strong in 26%, and supernatural beliefs in 25%. Treatment preference was split: modern medicine (50%), traditional (40%), and mixed (10%). Fifty percent sought care for mild symptoms, 30% delayed until severe, and 20% depended on illness type. Government facilities were the first contact for 55%, traditional healers 20%, and others 25%. Forty percent delayed >3 days to seek care.

Preventive care uptake varied: vaccination (90%) was high, deworming (20%) and BP/sugar screening (20%) were low. Maternal-child health coverage was better: antenatal care (75%), institutional deliveries (90%), and immunization (90%). Major barriers were lack of transport (75%), long waiting times (70%), distance (65%), and cost (60%). Past experiences with modern healthcare were positive in 60%, negative in 40%. Complete recovery was associated with a preference for modern medicine (OR 4.41, RR 2.06). Men, higher education, higher income, business occupation, and proximity to facilities favoured modern healthcare; women, low education/income, and distance favoured mixed modalities.

Conclusion

Healthcare utilization among the tribal population is influenced by low education, limited disease awareness, cultural beliefs, gender norms, and structural barriers.

Recommendations

To strengthen health education and literacy programs focused on common diseases, danger signs, and preventive care.

References

Baru R, Acharya A, Acharya S, Kumar AS, Nagaraj K. Inequities in access to health services in India: caste, class and region. Econ Polit Wkly. 2018; 53(8):49-58.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Statistical profile of Scheduled Tribes in India 2023. New Delhi: Government of India; 2023. p. 1-150.

Government of West Bengal. West Bengal Human Development Report 2021. Kolkata: Department of Planning and Statistics; 2021. p. 76-88.

National Health Mission. Tribal health action plan 2020-2025. New Delhi: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; 2020. p. 23-30.

Chauhan RC, Mahajan H, Ahmed S, Saxena D. Health-seeking behaviour and determinants among tribal populations in India: a review. J Family Med Prim Care. 2019;8(6):1834-40.

Tiwari R, Negandhi H, Zodpey S. Health literacy in India: insights from recent research. Indian J Public Health. 2020;64(3):279-84.

Minz S, Sahu D, Panda BK. Utilization of healthcare services among tribal populations: a study from Jharkhand. Indian J Community Health. 2022;34(2):231-7.

Bhan N, Rao KD, Kachwaha S, Srivastava S, Menon R. Engaging communities for improving health: a systematic review of community-based interventions in India. BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):1-11.

Birje S, Patil AD, Munne KR, Chavan V, Joshi BN, Akula A, Salvi N, Nair S, Valawalkar SP, Tandon D, Chauhan S, Patil D, Babu BV. Enablers and challenges of tribal women and the health system for implementation of screening of non-communicable diseases and common cancers: a mixed-methods study in Palghar district of Maharashtra, India. Indian J Med Res. 2023; 156(2):319-29. doi:10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_3240_21. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_3240_21 PMid:36629192 PMCid:PMC10057353

Kaur P, Borah PK, Gaigaware P, Mohapatra PK, Das NKR, Uike PV, Tobgay KJ, Tushi A, Zorinsangi, Mazumdar G, Marak B, Pizi D, Chakma T, Sugunan AP, Vijayachari P, Bhardwaj RR, Arambam PC, Kutum T, Sharma A, Pal P, Shanmugapriya PC, Manivel P, Kaliyamoorthy N, Chakma J, Mathur P, Dhaliwal RS, Mahanta J, Mehendale SM. Preparedness of primary & secondary care health facilities for the management of non-communicable diseases in the tribal population across 12 districts in India. Indian J Med Res. 2023;156(2):260-8. doi:10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_3248_21. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_3248_21 PMid:36629185 PMCid:PMC10057372

Boro B, Saikia N. A qualitative study of the barriers to utilizing healthcare services among the tribal population in Assam. PLoS One. 2020;15(10):e0240096 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0240096 PMid:33031431 PMCid:PMC7544062

Chauhan RC, Mahajan H, Ahmed S, Saxena D. Health-seeking behaviour and determinants among tribal populations in India: a review. J Family Med Prim Care. 2019; 8(6):1834-40. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_229_19 PMid:31334176 PMCid:PMC6618196