Paniya Tribes Research Articles

IJCM_263A: Vaccine Hesitancy in Tribal Communities: A Study on Parents of children under 5 years of age

Background: People who delay or refuse vaccines for themselves or their children are presenting a growing challenge for countries seeking to close the immunization gap. Objective: To determine the proportion of vaccine hesitancy and associated factors among informants of children under five years of age (U-5) within tribal communities in Wayanad. Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out in tribal colonies of Kalpetta taluk of Wayanad District. Sample size was calculated to 168 based on a study on vaccine hesitancy conducted among tribals at Murshidabad where the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was 36.9% with an absolute error (d) = 7%. Out of the 175 colonies in the taluk of Kalpetta, 11 colonies were randomly selected. Informants of children ages < 5 years Vaccine hesitancy among parents and guardians was assessed individually for each child in the household. If the informants were hesitant to give any vaccine included in the national immunization schedule they were listed as vaccine hesitant. A total of 208 U-5 children informants were interviewed. Vaccine hesitancy was assessed by adopted SAGE questionnaire. Results: Mean age of the informants was 30.3 + 7.90 and of U-5 children were 2.87 years + 1.45. Majority of the informants were mothers of U-5 children (88.5%), more than 3/4th of the informants belonged to Paniya tribe, most of the participants were unemployed (64.9%). Vaccine hesitancy to any of the vaccine in the immunization schedule was found among 23 participants (11%), majority were hesitant to take Pentavalent vaccine 12(5.76%). Fear of needles, too many vaccinations at 1 sitting and adverse effects following vaccinations were common reasons for being hesitant. Conclusion: The vaccination program is driven by health workers reducing vaccine hesitancy, however with greater motivation and awareness among the community vaccine hesitancy can be further reduced.

Ethnomedicinal plants used by the paniya tribes in Gurusimalai hills, Pandalur, Niligiri district

In the present report an attempt has been made to document the available ethno-medicinal plants and their application among Paniya tribes in Gurusimalai Hills, Pandalur, Niligiri district. Regular field trips were conducted during the months of July-November 2022. The information about the plants was recorded by means of discussion using standard questionnaire with the informers along with the field visits during the collection hours. According to the report of study, a total about 70 plant species belonging to 62 genera and 35 families for treating various kinds of ailments such as Fever, bronchitis, piles, ulcer, abdominal disorders, skin diseases, urinary discharges, snake bite, asthma, diabetes, heart diseases and weight loss. Among the parts, Root, leaves, fruits and Seeds were mainly utilized by the informants. A detailed analysis concluded that, Leaves (46 species) were the most frequently used part of a plant followed by the Fruit (15 species), Root (10 species), Seed (9 species), Whole plant parts, Flower and Bark (each 4 species), Stem (2 species) and Tuber (1 species). The most commonly used medicinal plants fell under shrub forms (25 species) followed by Herb (19 species), tree (13 species), Climber (12 species) and succulent herb (1 species). The mode of formulation preparation or administration was observed to be in the form of juice (27 species) followed by past (15 species), decoction (14 species), Powder (11 species), and vapour (3 species). The present study concluded that the native people in the study area have their unique way of utilizing medicinal plants to treat different kinds of ailments. This might pave the path for developing a scientifically validated botanical or lead to semi-synthetic derivatives intended for modern medicine.

Bulrush Mats and its Impact on Living Standards in Thiruvanamalai Districts

This article addresses bulrush mats, traditional mats manufactured from bulrush stalks. The research shows that bulrush mat production is vital to the livelihoods and cultural practises of the people that make it and that attempts are being made to maintain its traditional skills and knowledge. Promoting and preserving bulrush mats in Tamil Nadu requires marketing. TNHDCL and Co-optex promote marketing. NGOs and private companies are improving mat quality and designing new, consumer-friendly designs. South India, especially Tamil Nadu, uses bulrush mats (tule mats) for floor coverings, seats, and wall hangings. Women in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam produce bulrush mats. During the monsoon season, bulrush leaves are harvested, dried, and the fibres extracted to weave mats. Village fairs, exhibitions, festivals, and Amazon and Flipkart are the key marketing channels. The craft's cultural and economic value, artisans' struggles, and efforts to preserve and develop it have been studied. They are used for flooring, basketry, insulation, erosion prevention, and outdoor seating. For high-traffic areas, bulrush mats are resilient and easy to clean. They can also be used for basketry and other woven crafts and as decorative accents. They can be used as sleeping layers or clothes linings since they insulate. They stabilise banks and prevent erosion. Bulrush mats offer pros and cons, including availability, durability, dampness, maintenance, bugs, and allergens. When choosing where and how to utilise bulrush mats, these variables are crucial. Tamil Nadu's rural artisans make tule mats, or bulrush mats. Bulrush stalks are gathered, steeped, and weaved into mats using traditional methods. Recently, bulrush mat production has been revived to conserve ancient crafts and benefit rural communities. Irular, Kattunayakan, and Paniya tribes in Thiruvanamalai make bulrush mats for flooring, sitting, ornamentation, and insulation.

Assessment of infant and young child feeding practices among mothers of Paniya tribal children aged 0-23 months in Gudalur Block, Nilgiris District.

Optimal infant and young child feeding practices (IYCFPs), despite being emphasized since 2003, are yet to be met in India. This study assessed these practices and their association with various factors among mothers of children aged 0-23 months in Paniya tribes in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. About 89.1% of the infants below six months were timely breastfed and 77.9% of them were exclusively breastfed, respectively. Complementary food was introduced to 25% of infants aged six to eight months. About 27.8% of them received a diverse diet. About 91.7% of them were fed egg and/or flesh food and 37% of them were fed vegetables and fruits. Illiterate mothers and mothers who had a vaginal delivery fed the infant optimally. The adherence to these practices was found to decrease gradually with an increase in the infant's age. The prevalence of IYCFP is higher in the study population compared to the corresponding indicators for the district according to the National Family Health Survey-5.

Pattern of contraceptive use, determinants and fertility intentions among tribal women in Kerala, India: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesTo assess the pattern of contraceptive use and its determinants, knowledge regarding contraceptives including oral contraceptive pills and fertility intentions among tribal women in the reproductive age group.DesignCommunity-based cross-sectional study.SettingCommunity...

Perception of Noncommunicable Diseases Among the Tribals of the Gudalur Valley, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu

Introduction: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) pose a significant burden on global health with the increasing prevalence in rural and tribal communities. Although several studies show an alarming trend in adverse outcomes in Indian tribes, there have been only a few reports assessing their perception of NCDs. This study was conducted to address this gap to design better health strategies to reduce the burden of NCDs among the tribal communities. Methodology: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study done in Gudalur Adivasi Hospital in The Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu. The study participants included the five tribal communities belonging to the Particularly Vulnerable Group (formerly Primitive Tribal Group) living in the Gudalur and Pandalur Taluks. After approval from the Ethics committee of the Association for Health Welfare in the Nilgiris (ASHWINI), the data were collected using a predesigned, semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. The results were entered into an Excel sheet and exported to SPSS software (version 19) for the analysis. Results: The interviewed tribals belonged to the Paniya tribe (54%), Bettakurumba tribe (25%), Moolakurumba tribe (7%), Kattunayakan tribe (6%), and Irula tribe (8%) of whom 43% were illiterate. Seventy-eight percent of the tribals were aware of the presence of NCDs in their community. The most common source of information is ASHWINI and the other health care facilities. The association of unhealthy diet and family history with NCDs was reported by 72% and 25% of the interviewed tribals, respectively. However, the other risk factors like lack of physical activity (7%), old age (2%), and environmental factors (3%) were poorly understood. Similarly, the association between alcohol, tobacco, and NCDs was acknowledged by only 10% and 4% of the interviewed tribals. The importance of screening was understood by 72% of the interviewed tribals. Conclusion: This study showed that there is a severe lack of awareness of NCDs among the tribal population of the Gudalur and Pandalur taluks of the Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu. The importance of health promotion in reducing the burden of NCDs is well recognized. There is an urgent need for implementing adequate strategies to correct the knowledge, attitude, and practices of the tribal communities towards NCDs.

THE PANIYA TRIBE OF NILGIRIS: CAUGHT IN THE CONFLICT BETWEEN SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPIRATIONS AND TRADITION

Despite living in a techno- crafted society, many communities are still marginalized. This paper intends to examine the socio-cultural development of the Paniya tribes, the major tribal community which is sidelined in the Nilgiris district. Being mostly landless workers, illiterates, leaderless, unorganized, they are considered the most deprived people. The critical factors of constructive communication are found wanting in tribal people due to their shyness in contacting others, introverted behavior, lack of self-awareness, attitudes of the peer groups, and lack of condence that affects them physically and psychologically. This pushes the Paniyas into the vortex of a regressive stage in this society. The Paniyas, as a whole, are the poorest of the poor among all tribal communities. The struggles of the paniyas to be on a par with the mainstream in this society are taken cognizance of in this paper through a critical view of the socio-cultural dimensions like Culture, Language, Religion, and Level of education of tribals belonging to the Paniya community and their development. This paper adopts a Qualitative Research of descriptive case analysis using face-to-face interviews and case studies as the research tools. Though paniyas are underprivileged they are looking for a change in their standard of living. The changeover can take place by creating awareness and knowledge about the sources available for them for their development in social, economic, physical, and psychological aspects. Effective interpersonal interaction is the byword.

Prevalence and Determinants of Substance Use Among Indigenous Tribes in South India: Findings from a Tribal Household Survey

Indigenous populations have higher substance use than non-indigenous populations. Current evidence on indigenous substance use is largely derived from national household surveys, while there are no specifically designed, culturally specific methodological studies available to determine the prevalence of substance abuse among the indigenous tribes. The present study examined the prevalence and predictors of alcohol use, smoking, and betel quid chewing among indigenous tribes in South India. We conducted a cross-sectional population-based random survey of 2186 tribal households in the Wayanad District, Kerala. A self-prepared, pilot-tested structured interview schedule was used to collect information on sociodemographic variables and substance use. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the sociodemographic predictors of substance use. The overall prevalence of current alcohol use, current smoking and daily betel quid use was 17.2%, 18.8% and 47.6% respectively. Consistently, male gender (alcohol use OR = 13.55; smoking OR = 3.42; betel quid use OR = 1.65), increasing age (OR = 1.32; OR = 1.01; OR = 1.03), Paniya tribe status (OR = 2.24; OR = 1.39; OR = 5.38) and employment status being working (OR = 2.07; OR = 1.77; OR = 1.26) increased the risk of alcohol use, smoking and betel quid chewing. Furthermore, having 'no formal education' was associated with smoking (OR = 1.35), and betel quid chewing (OR = 3.27). Substance use was high among the indigenous tribes. The male gender, increasing age, Paniya tribe and working status significantly influenced alcohol use, smoking and betel quid chewing. The results underscore the need for indigenous specific de-addiction policies and programmes, alongside a consideration of the critical sociodemographic predictors.

Mortality in sickle cell disease: A population-based study in an aboriginal community in the Gudalur Valley, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India.

Sickle cell disease (SCD), the most common monogenic disorder, affects more than 300000 births annually, with 44 000 in India. Although the clinical phenotype of SCD is considered to be milder in aboriginal populations in India, there is a paucity of data on outcomes. To determine the severity of SCD in this population, we studied mortality rates and causes of mortality in a longitudinal cohort of patients with SCD in a remote aboriginal community in India receiving community-based comprehensive care. Causes of death were analyzed in this cohort from January 2008 to December 2018. Details were collected from hospital records and in case of deaths at home by utilizing the WHO verbal autopsy questionnaire. The cohort consisted of 157 patients belonging to the Paniya, Betta Kurumba, Kattunyakan, and Mullu Kurumba tribes. During the study period, there were 22 deaths, all from the Paniya tribe. Twelve deaths (54.5%) occurred in the hospital and the remaining at home (45.5%), reflecting a crude mortality rate of 140 per 1000 population. Twenty-five percent of deaths occurred in the 6-18 age group. There were no deaths in the 0-5 age group. The median age of death was 25 years, which was 30 years less than in the non-SCD aboriginal population. The leading causes of death were acute chest syndrome, anemia, and sepsis among the SCD patients and stroke and suicides in the non-SCD aboriginal population. SCD is a severe disease among the Gudalur Valley's aboriginal population with a significant risk of premature mortality.

Pattern of anaemia, determinants and weekly iron and folic acid supplementation programme among tribal adolescent girls attending a primary health centre in Wayanad, Kerala

Anaemia is a major cause of concern during adolescence particularly among the persons of tribal origin. The objective of the study was to determine the pattern of anaemia, determinants and coverage of the weekly iron and folic acid supplementation (WIFS) programme among adolescent girls in a tribal area. A cross sectional study was conducted among 196 adolescent girls at a primary health care centre in tribal area of Kerala. Every alternate adolescent girl attending the centre was chosen over a period of three months. Assent and informed consent from accompanying parents was obtained. Haemoglobin was estimated by Sahli’s method and peripheral smear prepared. Three fourths of the adolescent girls had iron deficiency anaemia; of which 48.64% had moderate anaemia 5.40% had severe anaemia and 1.6% had sickle cell anaemia. Adolescents belonging to Paniya tribe and those not consuming Iron and folic acid tablets under WIFS programme were three times (OR 2.95 95% CI 1.38,6.28) and two times (OR 2.5 95% CI 1.24, 5.11) respectively were more likely to be anaemic. Most (80%) of the anaemic girls were unaware about WIFS scheme and the intake of the iron supplementation was significantly higher in school going girls. Strengthening the WIFS scheme by targeting the vulnerable adolescent girls of Paniya tribe and out of school girls are of extreme importance in tackling the problem of anaemia among tribal adolescent girls.

The Ominous beginning" Perceptions of Smokeless Tobacco Initiation among the Paniya Tribes of Wayanad: A qualitative Study.

Background:The prevalence of tobacco chewing, and related oral mucosal lesions is alarmingly high amongst the Paniya tribes of Wayanad. A deeper understanding of their socio-cultural factors, beliefs, attitudes and behaviours would shed greater insights into the indiscriminate use of smokeless tobacco and related products in this community. Methods:Ethnography was the theoretical framework adopted with network and convenience sampling. Fifteen in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions were conducted among the key informants from within the tribal colonies of Cheepram and Madikkunnu. The data was audio recorded and converted into verbatim transcripts. Thematic content analysis was done using an inductive approach performed using computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (NVivo). Results:This study is suggestive of parental influence and peer pressure as the key factors for smokeless tobacco initiation amongst the adolescent. There was a greater predisposition for women to be chewers of tobacco, particularly after marriage. The key factors influencing initiation of the habit amongst men include peer pressure and availability of tobacco at workplace. The role of contextual factors such as enculturation, marginalization and perceived health benefits also play a substantial role in development of this habit. Conclusion:Targeted strategies for effective tobacco control can be developed through an understanding of the socio-cultural factors leading to initiation of smokeless tobacco use among disadvantaged communities.

The Paniya Tribes in Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu

Paniyans are one among the Primitive Tribal Groups (PTG’s) in Tamil Nadu. The Paniyans or Paniyas are found in the Southern part of the India in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. They are concentrated mainly in the Gudalur and Pandalur taluks of the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. The Paniya are one of the five ancient tribal communities of Tamil Nadu. They dwell in different hill and forest areas of Tamil Nadu. Various districts where the Paniya tribes have built their settlements. Include Gudalur block and Pandalur Taluk. The detailed information about the origin of the Paniya tribe is still unclear, but some details relating to this tribal community signify a little about the extraction of this tribal group. Thick lips, dark complexion and curly hair are the physical appearance of the Paniya people.

Comparison of periodontal disease prevalence among the privileged and the underprivileged tribes of Wayanad, Kerala: A cross sectional study

Aim and Objective: To determine the periodontal health disparities among privileged and underprivileged tribes of Waynad, Kerala. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional survey was done among 600 Kurichiya and 400 Paniya tribal populations of Wayanad District, Kerala from January 2015 to June 2015 after approval from the Institutional ethical committee. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data regarding study variables. Community Periodontal Index (CPI) was used to record the periodontal status of the study population after obtaining informed consent. Results: In this study periodontal disease was found to be far more prevalent among the underprivileged Paniyas than among the privileged Kurichiyas (P Conclusion: The present study demonstrates gross disparities in periodontal health status among the privileged and the underprivileged tribes of Wayanad and the need for active health interventions to eliminate such disparities. Keywords: Periodontal Diseases, Paniya Tribes, Kurichiya Tribes, Disparities, Wayanad, Cross sectional study

312P - Oral health disparities among privileged and underprivileged tribes of south India - A study on precancerous oral lesions prevalence

BackgroundThe tribal populations throughout India have remained socially and culturally alienated from mainstream Indian society until developmental and conservation activities in tribal areas forced interactions between them. The precancerous oral lesion is a major public health problem among South Indian tribes in Kerala state. The aim of this study was to explore oral health disparities among the underprivileged Paniya and the privileged Kurichiya tribes of Wayanad, South India from the Precancerous oral lesions perspective. MethodsA cross sectional survey was done among 600 Kurichiya tribes and 400 Paniya tribal populations of Wayanad District, India from January 2013 to June 2013 after approval from the Institutional ethical committee. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data regarding study variables. Oral health survey form was used to record the oromucosal status of the study population after obtaining informed consent. ResultsIn this study Precancerous oral lesions was found to be far more prevalent among the underprivileged Paniya tribes than among the privileged Kurichiya tribes (P < 0.0001). The prevalence of leukoplakia was found to be 42% amongst the Paniya tribes. This was much higher than the 2% found among the Kurichiya tribes.Among the Paniya tribes a statistically significant relationship was observed between Precancerous oral lesions and poor access to oral health care (P < 0.001). ConclusionsThe Paniya tribe is a distinct community with their own cultural beliefs, habits, and attitudes. High prevalence of precancerous oral lesions in the underprivileged population was due to tobacco usage and alcohol consumption and lack of awareness regarding the deleterious effects of the products used. Knowledge of these differences can be used to provide appropriate health education programs suitably targeted to reduce the use of the known risk factors for oral cancer. Legal entity responsible for the studyThe author. FundingHas not received any funding. DisclosureThe author has declared no conflicts of interest.

Nutritional Assessment of Tribal Women in Kainatty, Wayanad: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction:Women from a society reflect the culture that they are a part of and tribal women are the most disadvantaged considering the levels of illiteracy and ignorance. As per the National Family Health Survey 4 reports, in Kerala, undernutrition is particularly common among women from scheduled tribes, 20%. This study was done to assess the nutritional status and its associated factors among tribal women in the reproductive age group at Wayanad.Materials and Methods:A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out during January 2017 at Amrita Kripa Charitable Hospital in Kainatty, Wayanad. The minimum calculated sample size was 186. Using systematic random sampling, every third tribal woman in the age group of 15–49 years attending the general outpatient department as patient or bystander was interviewed using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire and examined for height, weight, body mass index, and pallor. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.Results:Data were collected from a total of 223 study participants; 53.8% of them were undernourished (<18.5 kg/m2) with 25% severe underweight and 3.1% and 2.7% preobese and obese women. Participants who were <30 years of age (0.001), those who used smokeless tobacco (0.008), and women from the Paniya tribe 0.001 had significantly higher odds of undernutrition.Conclusion:Almost one-fourth of the study participants were severely undernourished and 5.8% belonged to obese and preobese categories, thereby indicating the gravity of the nutritional difficulties among tribal women. A well-planned and coordinated effort is needed to address the scenario of malnutrition among tribal women.

Assessment of Oral Lesions and Its Association With Smoking Habits in Paniya Tribes of India

Background: The tribal populations throughout India have remained socially and culturally alienated from mainstream Indian society until developmental and conservation activities in tribal areas forced interactions between them. Oral health remains far neglected especially among the underprivileged tribal populations in India. Oral leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis are the most common oral mucosal diseases that have a very high malignant transformation rate. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the oral lesions among smoking habits in Paniya tribes of Wayanad, India. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was done among 170 nonsmoking and 145 smoking Paniya tribal populations of Wayanad district from January 2016 after approval from the institutional ethical committee. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data regarding study variables. Results: In this study oral lesions was found to be far more prevalent among smoking Paniya tribes than among the non smoking ( P &lt; 0.0001). The prevalence of oral lesions was found to be 48% among smokers. This was much higher than the 7% found among the nonsmokers. Among smokers gingivitis (82%) and periodontitis (68%) is the common lesions followed by oral pigmentation (33%), angular cheilitis (16%), oral submucous fibrosis (12%), leukoplakia (8%) and oral candidiasis (4%). Among the smokers a statistically significant relationship was observed between oral lesions and poor access to oral health care ( P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: The current study demonstrates gross disparities in oral lesions among smoking and nonsmoking Paniya tribes. Oral health problems due to tobacco use are highly prevalent in the tribal community of Wayanad. Hence attention should be focused on improving the oral health status of this unprivileged group.

Assessment of Betel Quid Habits and Risk of Precancerous Oral Lesions Among Paniya Tribes of Wayanad, India - A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Betel quid habits in India is widely prevalent and responsible for increased incidence of head and neck cancer in the country. Head and neck cancer is a major public health problem among Paniya tribes, a marginalized tribal group in Kerala state, India. Previous studies among Paniya tribals in Wayanad have documented a high prevalence of betel quid habit. Oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) are the most common oral mucosal diseases that have a very high malignant transformation rate. Aim: Aim of this study was to evaluate the risks imposed by betel quid habits in the development of oral leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis among Paniya tribes of Wayanad. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 300 residents between September 01, 2009 and March 31, 2017 using a structured questionnaire containing details of betel quid habits and socio-demographic details. Descriptive statistics and testing of hypothesis were used for the analysis using EPI INFO and SPSS 16 software. Results: In the 300 subjects, the mean age was 32.4 ±SD 11.4 years, gender distribution (57.5% males vs. 42.5% females). 32.5% out of the study population were betel quid chewers (46.5% of males and 14.6% of females). The prevalence of OL and OSF was 12.9% and 13.02%, respectively among betel quid chewers. Conclusion: Awareness of head and neck cancer by betel quid habits varied with socioeconomic status among Paniya tribes of Wayanad. Despite their awareness of tobacco chewing as a risk factor for head and neck cancer, most of them still continue to chew. There is an urgent need to develop and implement culturally appropriate awareness-raising activities to target betel quid habit.

Tobacco chewing habits and risk of precancerous oral lesions among Paniya tribes of Wayanad, India - a cross sectional study

Tobacco chewing habits and risk of precancerous oral lesions among Paniya tribes of Wayanad, India - a cross sectional study

356P - Betel nut chewing habits and risk of precancerous oral lesions among Paniya tribes of Wayanad, India: A cross sectional study

356P - Betel nut chewing habits and risk of precancerous oral lesions among Paniya tribes of Wayanad, India: A cross sectional study

577P Nicotine dependence assessment using Fagerstrom test and Nicotine Replacement therapy (NRT) recommendation techniques for smoking cessation among Paniya tribes

577P Nicotine dependence assessment using Fagerstrom test and Nicotine Replacement therapy (NRT) recommendation techniques for smoking cessation among Paniya tribes