Morbidity Profile of Tribal Gujjar Children of Udhampur District of J&K

Abstract

The present study was carried out with the objectives of documenting the morbidity pattern of the children and identifying the determinants of childhood morbidity. The sample for the study comprised 150 children in the age group of 3-6 years, their mothers and a supplementary group of 50 community leaders, religious preachers and health workers belonging to semi-nomadic Gujjar tribe residing in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory. The entire sample was drawn through a combination of random and purposive sampling technique from five villages of Udhampur. Morbidity Status checklist, Interviews and Focus Group Discussions were used for data collection. The findings reveal that gastro-intestinal infections, diarrhea, fever, respiratory tract infections along with anemia, dental problems, eye infections, skin infections and worm infestations were the most common ailment/s encountered by the children. Anemia, tuberculosis and whooping cough were more prevalent among the female children than the males. A multitude of factors were noted to influence the morbidity status of the sample preschool aged children. Child determinants such as their poor nutrient intake (as compared to the RDA) and low immunization status; maternal factors such as her age at marriage, age at delivery, place of delivery, inter pregnancy interval, and educational status; and community specific factors such as their life style and belief system, living conditions, financial status, and access to health care and supplementary nutrition were all noted to impact the health status of the children.