RESUMO
Background: There is a dominant role of informal healthcare providers (IHPs) in the current cultural and sociological context of tribal communities. They outnumber formal health‑care providers, thus bridging the gap between existing and nonexisting public health facilities despite not having formal training or accreditation. Objectives: The study examines the role, relevance, and extent of abortion services provided by IHPs‑ in Jharkhand among three Scheduled Tribe groups. Materials and Methods: Based on in‑depth interviews with 15 IHPs and 42 married women among three Scheduled Tribe groups in three districts of Jharkhand, a qualitative study was conducted. Interview guidelines addressed reasons for preferring IHP services, their scope of practice, dissemination, and quality of services. Results: The majority of women seeking abortions used traditional contraceptives, which often resulted in unwanted pregnancies. The economic, cultural, social, access to services, and confidence factors encouraged women to seek abortion services from IHPs. There were differences in the nature of access to abortion services among tribal groups. The Chero and Korwa tribes continued to rely heavily on simpler life technologies that shaped their beliefs and practices regarding reproduction. The Ho tribe, however, preferred to use the formal health‑care system since they were close to a more complex society. Conclusion: IHP plays a significant role in the social structure of Tribes, demonstrating their marginalization in access to formal health‑care services. Eventually, they replaced traditional healers with their function as physicians.
RESUMO
Gran parte del trabajo de cuidado de la salud-enfermedad se desarrolla en los hogares y tiene las características de ser femenino, no remunerado e inequitativo porque implica desigualdades de género en el reparto del tiempo, las actividades y las compensaciones. Para aportar a lasdiscusiones sobre la equidad sanitaria y la equidad de género, este ensayo busca controvertir los argumentos que definen las asimetrías de poder y posición que subyacen a las diferencias deroles entre hombres y mujeres sobre los cuales se apoyan muchas políticas y programas sociales que, basadas en la naturalización de las relaciones patriarcales y la división sexual del trabajo, contribuyen a mantener o profundizar las inequidades.
Health care often takes place at home. By acquiring feminine characteristics and connotations as an unpaid domestic activity, it implies gender discrimination in time distribution and its compensation for women. In order to contribute to the discussions in health and gender equality, this essay aims to reexamine power asymmetries and positions that emerge from the gender biased historical division of labor, where a significant amount of policies and social programs are based on naturalized patriarchal relations and this division of labor, a phenomenon that contributes to maintain or even deepen social inequalities.
Grande parte do trabalho de cuidado da saúde-doença desenvolve-se nos lares e tem características de ser feminino, não remunerado e díspar porque implica desigualdades de gênero na divisão do tempo, das atividades e as compensações. Para contribuir com as discussões sobre equidade sanitária e a equidade de gênero, este ensaio procurar controverter os argumentos quedefinem as assimetrias de poder e posição que subjazem as diferenças de papéis entre homens e mulheres sobre os quais se apoiam muitas políticas e programas sociais que, baseadas nanaturalização das relações patriarcais e a divisão sexual do trabalho, contribuem a manter ou aprofundar as iniquidades.