Tribal Villages Research Articles

Impact of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) interventions on diarrhoeal infections among children in the tribal regions of Palghar: a quasi-experimental study

ABSTRACT This study tested the effect of a 4-week Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) intervention on diarrhoeal infections in children, and knowledge, awareness, practices (KAP) in the six tribal villages of Palghar. We performed a quasi-experimental study in N = 180 households among mothers with children under-five registered in the anganwadi centers. Households received either WaSH kits (control arm n = 90) or kits combined with education (intervention arm n = 90). We estimated the effect of this 4-week intervention by comparing the groups post-intervention for change in KAP and diarrhoea infection. The average overall KAP score of the intervention group increased significantly from 8.54 ± 1.65 to 11.89 ± 1.60 (p < 0.001), between pre-intervention (t0) and 4 weeks after intervention (t2). In the control group, the change in average overall KAP score was not statistically significant (8.39 ± 1.72 to 8.74 ± 1.76 (p = 0.764)), between the t0 and t2 assessments. Diarrhoeal infection was reduced by 6% in the intervention compared to 2% in the control group. These findings support that a combination of short- and long-term strategies was more effective in reducing diarrhoea among tribal children than standalone approaches.

Menstrual hygiene behaviour among the tribal married women aged 15 to 49 years: A cross-sectional study in a community development block of Paschim Bardhaman District, West Bengal.

Menstrual hygiene management is integrally associated with reproductive health of women. Menstrual health and hygiene needs, particularly of tribal women still remain unmet for many reasons. Inappropriate menstrual behaviour leads to adverse health consequences. This study aimed to ascertain the menstrual hygiene behaviour of tribal married women aged 15 to 49 years and its correlates. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2019 to April 2020 in the Barabani block of Paschim Bardhaman district, West Bengal. A calculated sample of 530 women was selected randomly from 10 tribal villages of the study area; they were interviewed through a pre-designed schedule for socio-demographic and menstrual hygiene behaviour characteristics. Menstrual hygiene management score was derived based on five essential components- hygienic absorbents, hygienic disposal of absorbents, frequency of changing of absorbents, cleaning of external genitalia and source of water for cleaning; menstrual hygiene behaviour was categorised as favourable and unfavourable. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was performed using SPSS v. 20. All 530 women were Hindu and belonged to Santhal ethnicity; 53.4% were illiterate. Sanitary pads were used by 43.8% of women; 63% practised indiscriminate throwing for disposal of absorbents; 86% practised appropriate changing of absorbents. Overall, 63% had favourable menstrual hygiene management behaviour, and the literacy status of women was found to be a significant predictor. Unfavourable menstrual practices are still widely prevalent among tribal women, mainly attributable to lack of knowledge. Awareness generation should be focused on improving those practices, which would also result in the improvement of general health conditions.

Scrambling for Cuan? Social Conflict in the Development of Batu Dinding Waterfall Ecotourism

This paper describes the dynamics of conflict that occurred in the Batu Dinding rural tourism development between the local community and Tanjung Belit Village. The conflict occurred since 2015, and it’s was declared over in 2021. Therefore, what were the dynamics of the conflict during those six years? This research uses a qualitative-descriptive method with data collection through fieldwork. The data collection techniques used were a combination of limited participant observation techniques, informal and semi-structured interviews, and document studies. The results show that the conflict over the management of the Batu Dinding Waterfall tourism area in Tanjung Belit Village originated from agrarian conflicts related to land reoccupation. The motive is motivated by the development of tourism that has economic value and wants to monopolize it to get economic benefits (cuan). So the horizontal conflict between the Domo tribe and Tanjung Belit Village with the Tanjung tribe was resolved through legal channels and the police and the actors who committed acts of violence should also be imprisoned. In the end, the conflict was resolved through inter-tribal deliberation and the land was retained by Tanjung Belit Village.

Peer Interaction, Exclusion and School Participation: Issues of Schooling in a Tribal Village of Odisha

In India, drop-outs and out-of-school children in school education are dominant educational discourses even after seven decades of independence. No doubt, various policies and programmes were devised to challenge these issues in education, but still the issues of drop-outs are rampant both in rural and urban areas. The inequality in educational attainment between Scheduled Tribes and the rest of the population has widened throughout the years. Various social aspects of why children leave school before they complete the secondary level of school are understudied in India. Aspects of cultural and social practices and patterns of socialization of tribal children have received little attention in the research on tribal children in India. By specially focussing on friendship networks/peer interaction, the article reflects on how it affects educational participation of tribal and non-tribal children in a village located in the tribal areas of Odisha, one of the eastern states of India.

INNOVATION IN INDIGENOUS TOURISM: LESSONS FROM EN OORU TRIBAL HERITAGE VILLAGE, WAYANAD, KERALA

Indigenous tourism plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of tribal communities. This research paper explores the En Ooru tribal heritage village project in Wayanad, Kerala, and its impact on tribal development and indigenous tourism in the region. The study highlights the key characteristics of the En Ooru project, including its emphasis on preserving indigenous architecture, tribal customs, and traditions. Furthermore, the research explores the economic and socio-cultural impact of the En Ooru project. The village has become a major tourist attraction, drawing a significant number of visitors who contribute to the local economy. The paper also discusses the collaboration between the Kerala Tourism and Scheduled Tribe Development Department, which has been crucial to the success of the En Ooru project. This collaboration highlights the importance of governmental support and partnership in promoting indigenous tourism and tribal development. The findings from this study can serve as a foundation for future research and inform policymakers and stakeholders on strategies to enhance indigenous tourism and uplift tribal communities in Kerala.

Prevalence and Pattern of Morbidity, Febrile Illness, and Treatment-Seeking Behavior in a Tribal-Dominated District in Odisha, India: An Observational Study.

Background Tribal populations constitute a major portion of India's total population, especially in the eastern and northeastern states. We lack comprehensive information on the community burden of general morbidity and febrile illness in tribal population-dominated areas, which is quite essential for the microplanning of healthcare expenditure and implementation. This study aimed to provide evidence on the prevalence and pattern of general morbidity and febrile illness at the community level as well as the treatment-seeking behaviour in a tribal-dominated area. Methods The study was undertaken as an observational study in the community setting; looking into seasonal cross-sectional evidence on period prevalence (two weeks) of morbidity and qualitative/semiquantitative information on treatment-seeking behaviour of the selected community during 2012 and 2013. Result This study involved 5541, 5482, and 5638 individuals during the rainy season 2012,winter 2012-13, and rainy season 2013 seasons, respectively, from 25 tribal villages of Odisha, India. A period prevalence (two weeks) of overall morbidities was shown to be 27.28% and 28.9% during the rainy seasons of 2012 and 2013, respectively, of which 13% and 11.5%, respectively, were febrile, with low prevalence(6.44% overall morbidity and 1.81% febrile illness) in the winter of 2012-13. It indicated inadequacy in skills of the village-level health staff, monitoring of supplies/logistics, and population awareness for early reporting of fever to healthcare providers at the community level. Conclusion The evidence provided by the study would be helpful in making public health plans in tribal settings and also highlighted the opportunity to improve tribal health status through community awareness, especially in areas and populations with limited health access.

Climate change vulnerability of tribe managing Piper agroforestry systems in the Indian sub-Himalayan region

CONTEXTThe agrarian society of the Himalayan landscape is experiencing the continuous growing ill impact of climate change. The impacts are compounding due to shifting agriculture, which has jeopardized the ecological balance mainly by reducing the cultivation fallow cycles. Pnar, a hill tribe of the Assam state, Indian sub-Himalayan region, has transitioned shifting agriculture to Piper agroforestry (Piper betle L.), providing them numerous tangible and non-tangible benefits. Over the past three decades, there has been a notable transition from shifting agriculture to Piper agroforestry, driven by the rising demand in the market. OBJECTIVEUnderstanding climate change impact on agroforestry is crucial to addressing the climate crisis and to provision the adaptation of the tribe for the successful promotion of Piper agroforestry. METHODSTo assess the cause and nature of vulnerability in the study region, we surveyed 171 randomly selected households across 15 randomly selected tribe villages using the household-level questionnaire. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONThe present study showed that the villages with lower land holdings, higher loss of crop productivity due to extreme events, disease infestation and lower livelihood diversification were more vulnerable to climate change. The prominent diseases “leaf spot” and “root rot” were identified as a serious concern among the Piper farmers responsible for a decline in crop yield; the severity of losses in productivity leads to economic instability among households. Villages with prominent farm management strategies and greater decision-making abilities contributed explicitly to lower vulnerability. In contrast, villages with lower adaptive strategies were found specifically due to poor social networking and inadequate household infrastructure besides poor literacy levels. Additionally, the lack of multi-cropping farming and livestock management was a major cause of high climate sensitivity. Therefore, appropriate state government support is required to invest in crop diversification, better decision-making capability of tribes through education, and improved infrastructure besides diversifying the rural economy to enhance the adaptive capacity of the farmers to reduce their climate vulnerability and achieve agriculture-livestock-forestry nexus. SIGNIFICANCEThe sustainable Piper agroforestry farm management practices represent climate-smart agriculture, favouring high tree species diversity while reducing the farmers' vulnerability to climate change.

Accidental Falls Related to Physical and Environmental Risk Factors Among Older Hill Tribe Adults in Northern Thailand

Objective: Falls remain a cause of disability in the elderly. The present study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of falls among the hill tribe elderly population in Northern Thailand and identify its associated factors.Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in participants from 61 hill tribe villages in Chiang Rai province, Thailand aged more than 60 years. A simple random method was used to select the participants. A questionnaire was developed and validated for data collection. Timed-up and go test (TUGT) was used to assess the dynamic balance and risk of falls in the participants. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations between the study variables (p-value<0.05).Results: One hundred eighty-two participants were recruited into the study with a mean age of 69.54 years (S.D.=7.02). 59.9 % were women. It was found that 17.6% of elderly who fell in the previous 6 months and 28.0% of elderly who risks of falls as assessed by the TUGT. The multiple logistic regression model showed that tribe (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=4.40, 95 confidence interval (CI)%=1.88 to 22.02), dizziness (aOR=3.40, 95 CI%=1.70 to 16.70), history of fall in the last 6 months (aOR=2.42, 95 CI%=1.06 to 8.64), location of falls (aOR=1.37, 95 CI%=1.02 to 18.22), and the 15-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) (aOR=12.91, 95 CI%=1.07 to 84.85) were the associated risk factors for having a serious fall for hill tribe elderly.Conclusion: This study provides important determining factors associated with elderly falls, which can assist in developing and implementing an appropriate fall prevention program through environmental adjustments for the elderly.

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by traditional healers in Karayar tribal village, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, India

This research aims to document and evaluate the traditional medical practices and the use of ethnomedicinal plants by the Kani tribal healers living in Karayar, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, India. The study documented 67 plant species from 59 genera and 35 families. Sixty-seven medicinal plants are used to treat thirty-one ailments, with the most common use of plants being for the treatment of cough (7 plants). Fabaceae has the highest number of species (10 species). The leaves of 23 species are used for medicinal purposes. This documentation can be valuable for pharmacologists, foresters, conservationists, researchers, and those interested in herbal medicine.

Ntuma - the Cotton Village of Nagaland, North East India

India is believed to be the original home of the cotton plant. Cotton occupies about 4.7 per cent of the total cropped area in the country. Cotton is the most important fibre crop of the entire world. It provides the basic raw material to the cotton textile industry. The article is based on the practice of organic cotton cultivation in Nagaland, a tribal State in India.
 Ntuma, a village in Nagaland, also called Cotton village, this research work is on Ntuma and its contiguous villages. These tribal villages, especially Entuma used to cultivate organic cotton decades back for hundreds of livelihoods. People don’t always think about organic when it comes to the clothes we wear, the sheets we sleep on, the personal care items we depend on, and the mattresses in our bedrooms. But organic cotton is one of the most important choices people can make for the environment, because it supports a healthy ecosystem and prevents the use of toxic synthetic chemicals.
 A deep dive into the environmental benefits of organic cotton production, the importance of avoiding synthetic chemicals, the role of organic cotton when it comes to climate change mitigation, and the benefits of organic cotton to water and biodiversity is admirable. The craft people everywhere use their hands and soul to make the world a better place. In this context, artisans of Ntuma, it’s contiguous villages in Peren district or for so the entire Nagaland is an example. Years back people of these villages, especially the women, used to cultivate organic cotton and make fabulous tribal textile from that which with the passage of time got eroded. With imagination, and subtle intensity, the weaving of Nagaland pays homage to the indomitable spirit of its creators. 
 May be in a small way organic cotton cultivation and its further value additions may help closing the SDG gap, an appreciation for Tough-To-Decarbonize Industries, accelerating gender parity, youth perspectives, defeating the climate and health nexus and promoting agricultural growth.

Does Telecommunications Reinforce Rural Agricultural Extension Services: Insights From Tribal Villages in Eastern India

Does Telecommunications Reinforce Rural Agricultural Extension Services: Insights From Tribal Villages in Eastern India

Factors Influencing Open-air Defecation in Tribal Villages of Dhamni and Dhodani in Raigad District of Maharashtra: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Background and Objectives: The burden of poor sanitation, particularly in India, is exacerbated by challenges in infrastructure and education. Previous studies reveal unsatisfactory sanitary conditions, the association between low standard of living and open defecation, the need for collective effort, the positive impact of improved sanitation on child height, and factors hindering latrine adoption. This study aimed to identify factors influencing open-air defecation in tribal villages of Dhamni and Dhodani in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. Subjects and Methods: Data were collected through a door-to-door survey using a pretested questionnaire from December 2019 to February 2020, covering sociodemographic information, personal and family history, and environmental factors. Out of 130 willing participants, 112 were included in the final analysis. Descriptive statistics, including percentages, means, and standard deviations, were used to analyze the data. The Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. Results: The study found that a significant majority of the subjects (75%) engaged in open field defecation (OFD), whereas a smaller proportion used household latrines (25%). Among those practicing OFD, a considerable portion (46%) defecated in agricultural fields, and a notable percentage (27%) preferred defecating near water sources. Conclusion: The study revealed unsatisfactory sanitary conditions in the research area. It was observed that rural areas with higher levels of literacy exhibited a lower prevalence of OFD and higher rates of sanitary latrine utilization.

Exploring the Rich Ecosystem of a Tribal Village in Koraput, Odisha: A Journey into Nature's Harmony

Exploring the Rich Ecosystem of a Tribal Village in Koraput, Odisha: A Journey into Nature's Harmony

Loeffler, Reinhold, and Kati Loeffler: Our Toil and God’s Blessing. Culture of Progress in an Iranian Tribal Village

Loeffler, Reinhold, and Kati Loeffler: Our Toil and God’s Blessing. Culture of Progress in an Iranian Tribal Village

The Ambivalence of Urban Modernity and Marginality: The Making of Abadan Under the Anglo-Persian/Iranian Oil Company

The discovery of oil in Masjed Soleyman, Iran, in 1908 prompted the foundation of the British-owned Anglo Persian Oil Company (APOC), and the construction of a massive refinery in Abadan in the southwest. It also sparked astonishing industrial and urban development in the region. Within a span of fifty years following the discovery of oil, Abadan developed from a small tribal village to one of Iran’s major modern industrial cities. This study examines how the rapid modern transformation of Abadan under the management and control of APOC influenced the everyday lived experiences of the local population. As a typical colonial company town of the era, Abadan’s patterns of industrialization, urbanization, and modernization became archetypes for other oil cities in Iran and the Middle East. Shaped by dependence on a single commodity, the architecture and urban planning of Abadan reveals hierarchies of economic, social, and political domination. Using the oral histories of Iranians familiar with the period and the area, this research argues that early twentieth-century company towns in Iran such as Abadan served as rhetorical instruments, which foreign-owned companies and their hired architects and planners used to impose specific visions of modernity upon subaltern or indigenous populations.

SEASONAL MIGRATION FROM RURAL AREAS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TOCHOTANAGPUS REGION OF SJHARKHAND STATE

The liberalization period witnessed the increasing crisis in the agriculture and allied sector that supports a large chunk of the population and subsequently, the slow and gradual displacement of the millions of people from their traditional livelihoods result in increasing underemployment and unemployment in rural areas. This scenario has pushed the people to opt for migration for livelihood expansion. Migration is best understood as one of the strategies adopted by individuals, households or communities to enhance their livelihoods because in general migration has a function of reducing vulnerability – effective migration strategies helps people to reduce the risks of seasonality, harvest failure, etc. Present paper analyzes seasonal migration from remote tribal villages of South Chotanagpur in Jharkhand.

Effect of irrigation on farm efficiency in tribal villages of Eastern India

Irrigation is an important adaptation strategy to cope with climate change which reduces vulnerability to water stress and improves crop productivity to feed millions. There is evidence of crop yield stagnation in many developing countries, and irrigation efficiency is claimed to increase crop productivity. Therefore, this paper uses data envelopment analysis to evaluate the farmer’s productivity through technical efficiency (TE), i.e., the relationship between resource inputs and outputs of 513 paddy farmers in Eastern India. The results show that the farms are, on average operating at 14% TE, leaving a considerable scope to improve up to 86% to reach the optimal level. A significant difference is observed between irrigated and rain-fed paddy farmers, such that10% of the irrigated farms achieved efficiency scores over 40% and only 2% of rain-fed farms achieved the same. The tobit and beta fit regression models are estimated to find out the factors that influence the TE. Both surface water and groundwater sources of irrigation are used as predictors, along with other socio-demographic factors. Access to surface water irrigation is identified to be a significant determinant of farm efficiency, however, surface water irrigation, such as canal irrigation, is accessible only to farmers living on plain land. Farmers living on highlands need to explore other sources of irrigation practices, such as drip and sprinkler, that can increase TE and farm productivity. Therefore, this paper calls for government intervention to provide extensive training and facilities for these micro-irrigation practices.

Features of Odishan Tribal String Musical Instruments

According to Sangeet Ratnakar’s 6th chapter, the musical instruments are divided into four parts, such as Tat (string), Abanadha (covered with lether), Ghana (Metal) and Shusir ( Wind) . In the history of Indian music and culture, there are many string instruments name found from the Shastras and Puraans. Odhisha is know as the heart of the Indian tribal and folk culture. There are around 62 various tribal communities living in Odisha. Odishan tribal culture is prevalent among the tribal people of Odisha; majority of which is to be found in the tribal villages. The most important aspect of Odishan tribal culture is their music and dance. Each tribe has its own pattern of dance and music. They use different kinds of costumes and musical instruments to make their performance beautiful. Dance and music is an important part of tribal culture which being continued from the ancient times. The tribal music expressed the primal emotions of human being with simple words and simple tunes . Odishan tribal music as a whole reflects the rich cultural diversity. Although the pattern of music prevalent among them varies from tribe to tribe yet there are certain features common to all. Tribal music has even become more significant since it is an indispensable part of instrumental music especially in the context of blowing musical instruments. Odishan tribal string instruments are playing in perfect symphony.

Suspected human anthrax outbreak investigation in a tribal village of Koraput, India, 2021

AbstractBackgroundOdisha is a state in India endemic to anthrax disease with frequent reports of suspected animal cases. A suspected outbreak of anthrax in humans was reported on 24 October 2021 at Tukum village in Koraput district of Odisha, India after a bullock was found dead and consumed by the locals on 17 October 2021.MethodsThis extended outbreak investigation was carried out through house‐to‐house active surveillance from 24 October to 2 November 2021 in the Koraput district. Eschar skin swabs from wounds were collected and processed at District Public Health Laboratory, Koraput, and analyzed in Indian Council of Medical Research‐Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar for molecular confirmation. Samples from bone, soil, and dried meat were collected from the contaminated sites and were transported to Animal Diseases Research Institute, Cuttack for confirmation.ResultsFour suspected cases of human anthrax were identified who had handled and consumed dead bullock meat, among which one human had died later. The attack rate of the persons at risk in the village was calculated to be 1.23%. However, no Bacillus anthracis were identified in human swab samples when tested in real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Samples collected from contaminated sites were confirmed to have anthrax bacilli.ConclusionInvestigation revealed that a suspected anthrax cluster outbreak was due to butchering/de‐skinning and consumption of the anthrax‐infected dead animal. The presence of bacilli in human samples could not be confirmed due to the intake of antibiotics before the collection of sample. This finding highlighted the importance of sample collection at a suitable time and a possible need for one health approach for better coordination among the different responsible departments.

Prevalence of and factors associated with scrub typhus exposure among the hill tribe population living in high incidence areas in Thailand: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundScrub typhus is a significant tropical disease, occurring in rural settings and therefore usually afflicting remote agricultural populations who have lower socioeconomic status and limited access to medical care. A large proportion of the hill tribe people in Thailand are financially poor, have limited education, and do not have adequate health care access. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of and determine factors associated with scrub typhus exposure among the hill tribe population living in high-incidence areas in northern Thailand.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was used to gather information from hill tribe people aged 18 years and over living in ten hill tribe villages in Mae Fah Luang, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. Participants who met the inclusion criteria were invited to participate in the study. A validated questionnaire was used as the research instrument, and 5 mL blood samples were taken. Orientia tsutsugamushi IgM and IgG antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and then confirmed by immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Logistic regression was used to detect associations between variables at a significance level of α = 0.05.ResultsA total of 485 hill tribe people participated in the study; 57.1% were female, 29.9% were over 60 years of age, 46.4% were from the Akha tribe, and 74.2% had never attended school. The overall prevalence of scrub typhus exposure was 48.0%. In the multivariate model, five variables were found to be associated with scrub typhus exposure. Participants aged over 60 years had a 4.31-fold increased risk (95% CI = 1.73–10.72) of scrub typhus exposure compared to those who were younger than 30 years. Those who were illiterate had a 3.46-fold increased risk (95% CI = 1.93–6.21) of scrub typhus exposure than those who had at least a primary education level. Participants from the Akha tribe had a 2.20-fold increased risk (95% CI = 1.31–3.72) of scrub typhus exposure than those from the Lahu tribe. Subjects who had a history of cutting grass had a 1.85-fold increased risk (95% CI = 1.20–2.84) of scrub typhus exposure. Those who never wore gloves for farming had a 2.12-fold increased risk (95% CI = 1.28–3.49) of scrub typhus exposure than those who wore gloves daily.ConclusionsThere is a high prevalence of scrub typhus exposure among the hill tribe in Thailand. Effective public health interventions to promote scrub typhus awareness and prevention are urgently needed in these populations.