Health Status and Living Conditions of Irulas in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The study attempts to analysis health status and living conditions in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. A community based and cross-sectional study has conducted. The observational and in-depth interview was used to collect data. The 50 respondents were selected from the study. Findings revealed that the respondents were feeling anxious, sleep-related problems, substance use, chronic joint pain, loss of appetite, stomach pain, difficulty in breathing, weakness and chronic headache. Based on living conditions, most of the respondents are highly dissatisfied with their occupational, social, and community life, and most respondents are dissatisfied with their economic and housing conditions. Only the majority of the respondents were highly satisfied with their family life. The tribal ministry should give more emphasis on tribal health than their socio-economic development. Without addressing their health needs, their socio-economic development would be a mirage. As the saying goes, “health is wealth”, and tribal health is their wealth.