Demographic Data for SCSP Mobile Health Care Programme Conducted in the Rural Area of Bhopal District, Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

Introduction: Demography is the statistical and mathematical study of the size composition and spatial distribution of human populations. In this article we focused on some demographic data such as age, gender, education, caste, religion, marital status, occupation, addiction and dietary habits which may help to assess the socio economic and health status of the population. Methods: This is an observational and descriptive study, where data collected using a pretested, predesigned questionnaire/screening form to assess the demographic information i.e. age, gender, education, caste, religion, marital status, occupation, addiction and dietary habits, provided by Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine(CCRUM), Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, Delhi. Sample size was not calculated as all the patients who were coming to OPD were included in the study and all patients were assured of confidentiality of the details collected and patients provided data willingly. Inclusion criteria for the study included all the patients of either sex of any age group attending OPDs in five adopted villages, i.e. Kurana, Kalkheda, Bagoniya, Toomda and Dhammarra during July 2019 to March 2020 at SCSP Mobile Healthcare Programme, Clinical Research Unit, Bhopal. Results and Conclusion: Collected and compiled data exhibits that the Scheduled Castes population visited the OPDs belongs to a low socio-economic group and are mainly small farmers and landless labourers. The percentage of the female population who visited the OPDs was more which reveals that due to the excessive burden of work and poor nutritional diet they are more susceptible to have an illness. Literacy level was fair among population with 19.16 % illiterate. Tobacco chewing is seen more prevalent among the participants. Poverty and less availability of food have led to unsatisfactory dietary habit, though literacy is considerable in these villages.