A file photo of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve near Udhagamandalam in Tamil Nadu.
| Photo Credit: Sathyamoorthy M
A recent study conducted by the Bengaluru-based Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) in 35 villages near the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in Tamil Nadu emphasises the urgent need for improved healthcare infrastructure, including access to clean water, sanitation, and health insurance coverage for the marginalised populations living there.
The research study, titled ‘Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to health and well-being in a forest fringe community in southern India’, published in BMC Public Health, draws on data collected between 2021 and 2022 through semi-structured interviews in 322 households across 35 villages near MTR.
“This research study reveals that healthcare practices in these rural communities are influenced by a complex interaction of environmental, social, and cultural factors. In villages located within the core zone of the MTR, there is a marked reliance by people on traditional knowledge and practices for preventing and treating health conditions. Despite lower levels of formal education, these communities demonstrate a high degree of awareness of health risks, particularly regarding lifestyle-related chronic diseases. However, they were less aware of risks from zoonotic and vector-borne diseases,” according to CWS.
Respondents self-reported a mix of chronic (62%) and acute (31%) health issues, with undiagnosed fever being the most reported acute ailment (57%).
Chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, were reported by 62% of respondents and were more prevalent in villages in the buffer and boundary zones that are closer to urban areas.
‘While our study population seemed to suffer mainly from lifestyle-related chronic illnesses, the low self-reported incidences of tuberculosis, a chronic disease with high national prevalence, and sickle cell anemia, a genetic disorder with high prevalence in tribal populations of southern India, were unexpected findings that need deeper investigation,” said Dr. Bindu Raghavan, lead author of the study.
“A key insight is the community’s reliance on a wide range of healthcare options. The study found that 63% of respondents preferred government healthcare services for primary care, while 30% opted for private facilities for surgical procedures. Education levels were a key determinant in healthcare access, with individuals with higher education being more likely to utilise clinical healthcare services. Meanwhile, those with lower education levels often turned to traditional healers or avoided medical care altogether,” according to CWS.
According to the study, a majority (76%) expressed satisfaction with public services, citing dignified treatment (64%) and regular visits from healthcare workers as reasons for seeking care.
The study also identifies systemic barriers that hinder healthcare access, such as inadequate infrastructure.
“For instance, 15% of respondents reported spending more than a month’s income on healthcare services. Furthermore, marginalised groups, particularly women and low-income households, face additional challenges in accessing healthcare, exacerbating health disparities in these communities,” according to CWS.
Published – May 26, 2025 10:30 am IST