Public Health System Response to the Healthcare Needs of an Indigenous Community in Kerala, India

Abstract

The article aims to assess the public health system response towards the health scenario of an indigenous community in Kerala in order to draw conclusions on the success level and gaps in the tribal health administration. The study is a qualitative exploration through in-depth interviews of stakeholders. The research highlights progress, strengths, deficiencies and barriers relating to the planning and implementation of health care administration in Attappadi tribal block. The major themes reflect on the healthcare administration in terms of evidence–practice gap, health literacy and participatory planning, status of healthcare interventions, and decentralisation. Various parameters of corrective actions for the improvement in the administration are also discussed. There is a necessity to improvise health interventions with the participation of tribal communities to derive sustainable solutions. Innovative and tailor-made programmes which rely on evidence-based, strength-based and collaborative approaches can improve the healthcare administration among the tribal communities.