"Dr. P. C. Sen Memorial Best Paper Presentation Award on rural health practice". Physical and mental community health: what are the obstacles!

ABSTRACT

The present work aims to study the cultural concepts of the health in general and mental health in particular from six villages of Sundarban region, West Bengal, India, by using field research methodology, viz, participants observation, focus group discussion and in depth interview. A qualitative data was collected from the field. Analysis of the data shows that there is a clear difference of conception among the people of the region according to their socio-economic status. Poor and non-educated segment stressed much more on the physical ability and lack of economic resources in relation to health, whereas educated and comparatively economically stable segment with some urban influence, stressed more on both physical and emotional stability as a measure of good health. The pattern of help seeking also reflects different preferences towards traditional and modern treatment facilities available in the region. Results on the study promoted to take intensive community awareness programme for effective health coverage of the population.