TRIBAL HEALTH :KOTTIYUR EXPERIENCE

Tribal in Kannur district

Kannur district has a tribal population of around 38,000 distributed in 200 tribal hamlets.

Peravur, Irikkur and Iritty block panchayat abodes around 70 % of tribes in Kannur

Tribal sects in Kannur include Paaniyan, Kurichiyan, Mavilan, Karimpalan, Malavettuvan and Kanikaran

In order to assess the condition of tribal’s in Kannur, a Prilimnery health assessment survey was carried out in a Paaniya tribal colony near Kottiyoor on 16.06.13

The tribal hamlet had 33 houses in 3 clusters by the side of Kottiyoor River.

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General information

Number of house holds were visited-33 Number people were enlisted- 170 ( 87

females , 83 males) Number of under five children -14

children (5 females 9 males)

Housing condition

Positives Majority owned houses Most were made of stones and bricks with

concrete roof Floor- 50% cementNegatives Overcrowding – 45% (12 out of 27 houses) Fuel used- wood Traditional cooking place mostly inside House very near to river- more prone to flash

floods and landslides

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Water and sanitation

Drinking water source – Up hill cluster – spring Downhill cluster- a ditch dug out in opposite river bank

Latrines less than 50% houses has latrine only 2 uses it All practice open defecation in river

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Processions

Telephones in 17 houses 7 houses have television

18 (54.5%) houses don’t have electricity 12 (33.4%) families don’t have ration

cards Only 2 houses subscribe news paper No Bank account for 17 (51.2%) families

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Education and occupation

The education status of the community was found to be was poor particularly of the women. 41% of the population are illiterate

All tribal in the colony are manual laborers and they depend on forest resources for their daily living.

The daily wages were lower than the norm in the area.

Child health

Majority of under 5 children had low birth weight.

Under nutrition among under 5 years

No of children

Under nourished

Severely under weight

Stunting Severe stunting

Males 8 5 (62.5%) 2(25%) 4(50%) 3 (37.2%)

Females 3 3 (100%) 1(33.3%) 2(67%) 1 (33%)

Total 11 8 (74%) 3 (27%) 6 (55%) 4 (36.3)

Child health

The immunization coverage was found to be good. There is a practice of delayed breast feeding at

time of birth was not observed Exclusive breast feeding is practiced for 6 months

at least by most women. However the weaning is often delayed because of

the postponement of a cultural ritual associated with weaning due to financial constraints.

Even though children are enrolled in anganwadi, the utilization is irregular due to distance

Anemia was prevalent among under 5 children and adolescent girls

Maternal health

Child marriage is common (3 out of 12 mothers)

The pregnant women do not increase their food intake during pregnancy.

Non utilization of supplementary nutrition through anganvadi

Maternal health

Utilizes the antenatal care services provided through PHC which is about 8 Km from the hamlet.

They are taking iron folic acid tablets regularly

Most of the deliveries in past 5 years were hospital deliveries

No Maternal deaths were reported in past 5 years.

Diseases

Diarrheal episodes are common

At least 3 families had members suffering from hepatitis

Anemia is prevalent among children and mothers

Skin diseases like pyoderma is common

There is one case of mental retardation and one case of psychiatric disease

Addictions

Alcoholism is prevalant among males

Use of smokeless tobacoo is seen among males females and adoloscents

Summary of health problems Childhood protein energy malnutrition Anemia Sanitation Safe drinking water Prone to disaster like land slides and flash flood Prone to epidemics like hepatitis and other

water borne epidemics Lack of education Lack of health awareness Addictions

Thank you