Community education, wealth and environmental risk on child health among indigenous children in North Eastern states of India.

Indigenous population live in their remote inaccessible abode and are being deprived of the fruits of development. They belong to lower strata of the society at large and their socio-cultural practices make them vulnerable to health risk particularly of child health. As a result ensuring health of indigenous people still remains an elusive goal even today. This paper attempts to examine the relevance of socio-cultural and environmental factors in explaining morbidity and nutritional status among indigenous children in North Eastern States of India which is considered one of the most inaccessible and diverse region with high concentration of tribal people. Analysis of data from Indian National Family Health Survey-3 (2005-06) reveals that households without windows, house structure, electricity, wealth index and place of residence have important bearing in moulding child health. Affluent neighbourhood are found to be key determinants of child health (p<.001). For indigenous people, the broader approach must complement the existing emphasis on risk factors, life style or behaviours because of the financial barriers and inaccessibility to health facilities which adds the burden of the morbidity and out of which children becomes the victim.