Current health scenario in rural India

Abstract

India is the second most populous country of the world and has changing socio-political-demographic and morbidity patterns that have been drawing global attention in recent years. Despite several growth-orientated policies adopted by the government, the widening economic, regional and gender disparities are posing challenges for the health sector. About 75% of health infrastructure, medical man power and other health resources are concentrated in urban areas where 27% of the population live. Contagious, infectious and waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea, amoebiasis, typhoid, infectious hepatitis, worm infestations, measles, malaria, tuberculosis, whooping cough, respiratory infections, pneumonia and reproductive tract infections dominate the morbidity pattern, especially in rural areas. However, non-communicable diseases such as cancer, blindness, mental illness, hypertension, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, accidents and injuries are also on the rise. The health status of Indians, is still a cause for grave concern, especially that of the rural population. This is reflected in the life expectancy (63 years), infant mortality rate (80/1000 live births), maternal mortality rate (438/100 000 live births); however, over a period of time some progress has been made. To improve the prevailing situation, the problem of rural health is to be addressed both at macro (national and state) and micro (district and regional) levels. This is to be done in an holistic way, with a genuine effort to bring the poorest of the population to the centre of the fiscal policies. A paradigm shift from the current 'biomedical model' to a 'sociocultural model', which should bridge the gaps and improve quality of rural life, is the current need. A revised National Health Policy addressing the prevailing inequalities, and working towards promoting a long-term perspective plan, mainly for rural health, is imperative.

HIV infection dynamics in rural Andhra Pradesh south India: A sexual-network analysis exploratory study

“…In our sample there were also increased numbers of concurrent sex partners amongst tribals, most often with CSWs, and a trend towards increased numbers of lifetime sex partners. While there was not an increase in HIV infection amongst tribals, HIV is now prevalent within this component of the caste system and may be further exacerbated by the continued lack of shift of health preventive resources from urban to rural areas (Patil et al, 2002). It is important to note, however, that tribals are a heterogeneous population even within this study's 'Banjara' sub-group, and sexual matching patterns and risk for HIV infection may differ between tribal sub-groups.…”

Teaching Trauma Care in India: An Educational Pilot Study From Bangalore

“…Seventy-five percent of India's population lives in rural and village districts where access to health care is extremely limited, particularly for emergency services [1]. The current health state for Indians living in these locations is a cause for grave concern.…”

“…The current health state for Indians living in these locations is a cause for grave concern. Although infectious and contagious diseases, compounded by poverty and malnutrition, predominate in these regions as the major cause of morbidity and mortality, HIV/AIDS, cancer and road-traffic injuries have risen dramatically [1]. In India, death occurs due to road-traffic injuries every two minutes [2].…”

“…This lack of priority for prehospital care and transport systems contributes significantly to the overall patient mortality. Previous studies suggest that new health care initiatives, coupled with allocation of national funds, are urgently needed for urban, rural and village trauma care planning [1][2][3].…”

Micronutrient Deficiencies as Predisposing Factors for Hypertension in Lacto-Vegetarian Indian Adults

“…In the vegetarian population of India, daily consumption of vegetables has been a traditional practice. Still the prevalence of hypertension in Indians is increasing [6,7], indicating the existence of different risk factors. Several studies on risk factors of hypertension in Indians have reported demographic, anthropometric, lifestyle factors, blood lipid profile or glucose [8,9].…”