Health Belief and Behaviour of the Warli Tribes of Maharashtra, India: An Overview

Abstract

Cultural norms are taking a toll on our health. Creating a cultural shift towards better health behaviour is the best solution to begin reversing current healthcare trends. The Warlis are one of the major tribes of western India, and they predominantly live in Thane and Nasik districts of Maharashtra and in the Jowhar, Mokhada and Wada talukas and their bordering areas with Gujarat state and Union Territories, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The present paper attempts to observe the concept of health and disease and health-culture behaviour of the Warlis of Maharashtra, India. Participatory tools and techniques, including focus-group discussions and in-depth interviews, were undertaken covering 120 households from six selected villages of Peth Tehsil of Nasik district of Maharashtra. The major findings of the study are as follows: (a) Traditional healing is still in practice among the Warli tribe; (b) Head of the family and gender play an important role in making decisions in households in relation to health matters and treatment-seeking; and (c) they have limited knowledge on modern healthcare services.