2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Online Program

335364
Traditional maternal and child health practices of Indigenous women in Northeast India


Sunday, November 1, 2015

Manisha Joshi, PhD, School of Social Work, University of South Florida, Tampa FL, Tampa, FL
Iraida Carrion, PhD, LCSW, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences: School of Social Work, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Guitele Rahill, PhD, LCSW, School of Social Work, University of South Florida, Tampa FL, Tampa, FL
Vijay Swami, MSW, Research Institute of World's Ancient Traditions Cultures and Heritage (RIWATCH), Roing, India
Bulia Pulu, BA, LLB, Research Institute of World's Ancient Traditions Cultures and Heritage (RIWATCH), Roing, India
Sumila Linggi, BA, Research Institute of World's Ancient Traditions Cultures and Heritage (RIWATCH), Roing, India
Background: Despite progress on maternal and child health (MCH) related Millennium Development Goals, MCH disparities remain not only across countries but also regions and sub-regions within countries. Local-level knowledge on MCH-related risk and protective factors (e.g., post-partum practices, health-seeking behaviors, access to MCH services) can inform development of relevant policies/programs. We explored the MCH-related practices of and use of health services by indigenous women from a remote mountainous region of Northeast India. 

Methods: Six focus groups were conducted with 42 women. Kleinman's Explanatory Model of illness formed our framework and focus group guides were developed to facilitate data collection. Focus groups were tape-recorded in Hindi and Idu Mishmi languages and transcribed into English. Grounded theory was used for analysis.

Results: The average age of women was 33 years, and 30% of them were married before 18 years. On average, women had 2.12 children; a majority had at least one institutional delivery. MCH-related practices vary by tribe and include dietary restrictions, use of herbs and oils, rest period, and restrictions on certain household activities. Women rarely go for routine medical checkups. Transportation to a hospital is difficult during rainy season, number of physicians is limited (there is only one gynecologist and obstetrician in the area), and women travel long distances to other states for specialized care.

Conclusion: Knowledge about indigenous MCH practices and barriers to accessing health services can contribute to public health and other health professionals' cultural competence and contribute to the overall health of indigenous women.

Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe MCH-related practices prevalent among indigenous women in a remote mountain region of Northeast India. Describe the barriers to accessing MCH-related health services that indigenous women face in remote mountainous regions. Discuss the implications of knowledge about MCH-related practices and access barriers to health services, for developing cultural competence among health professionals and for developing relevant MCH-related policies/programs for indigenous women.

Keyword(s): Maternal and Child Health, International MCH

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a public health background (MSPH) with specialization in maternal and child health and I have experience in conducting research in the area of women’s health in India and other countries.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 2041.0: International MCH Poster Session