Assessing the Influence of Connectivity on Out-migration and Healthcare in Uttarakhand’s Hilly Villages, India

Abstract

Objective: To assess the influence of connectivity of a geographical location on out-migration and health-seeking behaviour in the hilly village of Uttarakhand. Materials and Methods: Two villages located in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, India were surveyed. One village had good connectivity, while the other was remote. The survey was conducted through door-to-door visits by two volunteers using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was performed using R software. Results: A total of 63 households in the well-connected village and 94 in the remote village. In the well-connected village, the prevalence of out-migration (household level) was 0%, while in the remote village, it was 32.9% (95% confidence interval: 24.1–43.3). In the remote village, 72.3% of households sought care from traditional healers. A significantly higher proportion of remote village households (88.3%) faced healthcare access issues compared to well-connected village households (17.5%) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The healthcare access and out-migration were major issues in the remote village. The government policies should aim to tackle these issues.