Assessment of Health Aspects of Tribal Adolescent Girls in India's Most Populous Tribal State: A Two-Decadal Review

Abstract

Madhya Pradesh is India's largest tribal population state, with 46 tribal groups accounting for 21.1% of the total population. While numerous studies on tribal health in general were conducted, research on the health risks coverage of adolescent girls in Madhya Pradesh was inadequate. This paper aimed to identify the current health delinquencies of tribal adolescent girls living in Madhya Pradesh. In the present study, 23 research papers published from 1st January, 2000 to 18th July, 2022 were selected for review, while another 38 papers were reviewed to understand the background of adolescent health issues. The papers for review were selected by applying certain criteria in accordance with the study objective. Google Scholar and the PubMed database were used to search for relevant research articles, and the final selection was done after an in-depth reading and suitability of the subject. Major health risks are identified as anaemia and IFA supplementation, reproductive health, malnutrition, and menstrual hygiene. High proportion of anaemia (52%-94%) was observed. Rate of underweight (20.1% to 72.7%), wasting (9% to 61.1%), and stunting (20.1% to 32.3%) indicated undernutrition among adolescence girls. Girls were infected by Human Papillomavirus and Sexually Transmitted Disease. Limited knowledge on Human Immunodeficiency Virus, contraceptive methods, and sexual routes of transmission were found among tribal girls. Low birth weight babies as a result of early marriage and stillbirth were major concerns among adolescent tribal girls. The analysis revealed that lack of information on health services, social-cultural factors and deprivation from health care access are responsible for unfortunate health situation of tribal girls. More comprehensive studies with a holistic approach on identified issues are essential for effective adolescent friendly policy implication in favour to improve prospective health. Key words: [Health Risk, Tribes, Adolescent Girls, Anaemia, Undernutrition, Madhya Pradesh]

Dominant barriers in accessing modern health care services among vulnerable community in central India: An explicit observation

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