HEALTH AND HYGIENE BEHAVIOUR OF THE DEORIS OF ASSAM

Abstract

Health is a function not only of medical care, but also of the overall integrated development of society cultural. The health problems need special attention in tribal communities.  The tribal population has distinctive health and hygiene problems which are mainly governed by their habitat, difficult terrains and ecologically variable niches.  It is generally said that health and hygiene behaviour of tribal people are poor relative to the non-tribal people because of their different habitat, difficult terrain, isolation, primitive customs & tradition, illiteracy, superstition etc.

                 The Deoris are one of the plain schedule tribes ofAssam, who are likely to exhibit certain socio-cultural and demographic characteristics which are different from those of other tribes and non tribal population ofAssam. Any study comprising all the tribes of a region is bound to conceal the peculiar characteristics of each tribe which may be influenced on its health status and hygiene behaviour. The present study is an attempt in this direction to study of a tribal group ofAssam— The Deoris- at its micro level.