The Health Conditions of Rural Localities of Madhya Pradesh

Health researchers have paid scant attention towards the health of rural areas. Most of the times, changing lifestyles and the altering environments of a rural setting may modify the health scenario of the rural inhabitants. In the present study we investigate the influence of living in a rural area as described by rural from different parts of the Northern Province of central India. Our analysis focuses on ways in which these rural people appreciate, complain and experience health and their environment and hygiene. Their insights add to our knowledge to understand the plights of rural people and the influence of changing cultural and lifestyles on their health. This qualitative research used approaches from ethnography and grounded theory. National sampling criteria were used to define 'rural' as an area with a population of less than 10,000; therefore, small towns were included. A group of students including two female and four male students were hired and trained for the purposes of the study. Participants were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling. Data collection using a questionnaire that was translated into local language Hindi by the group of students recruited for the purpose. Results revealed that, altogether thirty people from each village ranging in age from 20 to 60years were interviewed. The majority was married and the minority had children still living at home. Most of the people were found to be puffing smoke, guttka etc and were suffering from one or two ailments. In conclusions, health facilities must be equally distributed to ensure equal physical access. Rural development needs focus on methods that lead directly to sustainable programmes to promote the health of rural community. Improving rural health requires innovative, creative and integrative strategies that address both individual health related behaviours and many social determinants of health. It is imperative for any planning effort to think beyond health care services to the more multifaceted social conditions that impact health.