Background:There is a lack of knowledge related to the utilization of dental services by tribal pregnant women who constitute over 35% of the Indian population. The aim of the present study was to identify barriers to the utilization of the dental services and also the factors that concern the tribal mothers’ visit to the dental office.Materials and Methods:A total of 300 tribal mothers visiting a tertiary care unit participated in this cross-sectional, observational study. A pilot study with twenty participants was conducted before the commencement of the study. Data were collected using a modified questionnaire consisting of demographic data and questions relating to oral health knowledge, attitude, and practices, as well as barriers to the utilization of dental services and factors that concern dental visits during pregnancy. Data analysis was done using SPSS software package 21.0. Nonparametric statistical tests were done to analyze oral health knowledge and attitude of the participants. Various factors were identified using univariate and multivariate models using simple logistic regression analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis.Results:Among the two different tribes considered in the present study, the Saora tribe seemed to be more conscious toward oral health, and 29.7% of participants visited the dentist during pregnancy. The age and experience of the participants along with the educational level, employment status, and knowledge about oral health-related pregnancy outcomes influenced their dental visits. The most reported barrier included the lack of awareness and knowledge of the availability of the dental services. Accessibility and distance to the dental clinic were not found to be negative confounding factors among the participants for the utilization of the services.Conclusion:This study concludes that previous experience and consciousness of the mother to utilize the dental services played a vital role in the utilization of dental services among tribal pregnant women. However, the findings of the present study clearly indicate the need for further research to understand barriers to the utilization of dental services among underprivileged tribal groups of population.

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The study analyses the implication of changing agrarian regime in India on rural non-farm economy. So far as agricultural growth and/or development are concerned, we can observe four major phases of transition in India, such as, initiation of land reform, period of green revolution, introduction of contract farming and the subsequent diversification of cropping pattern towards high value crops; and finally, the recent upsurge in agricultural land conversion for industrial/infrastructural/urbanisation purposes. Though the impact of changing agrarian situation in India has been debated in the context of agrarian distress, its impact on rural non-farm (RNF) sector which is an integral part of the rural economy is somewhat overlooked. Using farm-non-farm indicators across six agriculturally diversified states of India, we argue that more equitable distribution of land with the introduction of land reforms fosters growth in RNF economy; whereas, green revolution and crop diversification towards high value crops results in concentration of land leading to delinked production between marginal-small farmers and RNF sector. Finally, the policy of largescale industrialisation at the cost of agricultural land conversion induces a contraction of RNF economy.

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