Health Disparity and Health Equity: Indigenous People and Beyond

Book Details

• Author: Mithun Das, Subir Biswas, and Sarit Kumar Chaudhuri (Eds.)

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• ISBN: 9788131612019

• Pages: 202

• Cover: Hardcover

• Release Date: 14-10-2021

• Dimensions: 4.3 x 3.3 x 0.8 inches

About the Book

In an era where the concepts of health disparity and health equity are central to public health discourse, this book emerges as a valuable academic contribution focusing on these critical themes within the Indian context. Edited by renowned scholars Mithun Das, Subir Biswas, and Sarit Kumar Chaudhuri, the volume brings together a diverse collection of research papers from the field of anthropology and allied disciplines. It addresses health inequalities faced by indigenous, marginalized, and underprivileged populations, offering a multi-dimensional understanding of how social, cultural, and economic factors impact health outcomes.

The uniqueness of this compilation lies in its strong fieldwork foundation. Many contributors have based their analyses on empirical data collected from various regions and communities, particularly in tribal and rural India. The interdisciplinary nature of the book, integrating anthropology, public health, sociology, and economics, makes it a significant resource not only for researchers and academicians but also for policymakers and development practitioners.

Divided into three insightful sections—Healthcare Practice and Policy, Health Disparity, and Health Outcomes by Behavioural Practices—the book navigates through a wide spectrum of topics. These range from traditional healthcare systems and maternal health, to occupational health in tea plantations, child nutrition in slums, and behavioural health patterns among tribal communities. Each chapter contributes to building a holistic view of health equity, especially among vulnerable groups.

This volume will be highly relevant for scholars pursuing research in public health, social sciences, anthropology, and development studies, and it offers a well-rounded perspective to those at the early stages of their academic and professional journeys.

Contents Overview:

• Healthcare Practice and Policy: Includes chapters on healthcare practitioners in tribal areas, cultural influences on maternal and child health, and occupational health in Assam's tea gardens.

• Health Disparity: Discusses disparities among elderly women, slum dwellers, LGBTQ+ communities, and those affected by environmental toxins like arsenic.

• Health Outcomes by Behavioural Practices: Explores health behavior among tribal populations, parent-child dynamics in autism, obesity, and gendered dimensions of health in tribal diasporas.

About the Editors

Mithun Das is the Head of the Department of Anthropology and Tribal Studies at Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, West Bengal. A former assistant professor at Sree Chaitanya College and a UGC-Raman Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Alabama, USA, his work explores ethnic variation in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

Subir Biswas is Professor and Head of Anthropology at West Bengal State University. With extensive teaching and research experience, he specializes in anthropological demography, gender studies, bioethics, and health. He also held the UGC-IUC associateship at IIAS, Shimla.

Sarit K. Chaudhuri is a founding professor at Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh, and has had a distinguished academic career, including a post-doctoral fellowship at SOAS, UK. As a former Director of IGRMS, Bhopal, he has been deeply engaged with tribal issues in North-East India and ethnographic museum development across the country.