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Family Planning and the Scheduled Tribes of Rajasthan: Taking Stock and Moving Forward

Indian Institute of Health Management Research, 1 Prabhu Dayal Marg, Sanganer Airport, Jaipur 302 011, India E-mail: iihmr{at}iihmr.org.

K. Srinivasan

Indian Institute of Health Management Research, 1 Prabhu Dayal Marg, Sanganer Airport, Jaipur 302 011, India E-mail: iihmr{at}iihmr.org.

In this paper an attempt has been made to document the reasons for low acceptance of family planning methods among the scheduled tribes of Rajasthan, India. Three tribal groups-the Bhils, Garassias and Meenas-were selected for detailed investigations. The study was conducted using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The respondents included, among others, community members, community leaders, eligi ble couples and the service providers of the area. The results of the study show that resistance to family planning is due to sociocultural and socioeconomic factors, the user's knowledge of and access to contraceptive methods and the attitude of the service providers towards the beneficiaries. The sociocultural factors include, among otbers, polygamy, the felt need for a large number of sons to defend and preserve family hon our, prevalence of nata system and the excessive use of alcohol among men. One socio economic factor is the huge amount of compensation to be paid to one's wife's parents in case of her sterilisation. One of the salient findings of the study is an almost non- existent client-provider relationship. Based on the findings of the study a plan has been suggested to address this weakness. This plan advocates basic changes in the state policy in order to make family planning acceptable to tribal groups.

Journal of Health Management, Vol. 2, No. 1, 55-80 (2000)
DOI: 10.1177/097206340000200103


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