Healthcare Disparities in Tribal Areas with Reference to Availability and Accessibility

Healthcare is one of the largest service sectors in India. The Indian public healthcare system consists of primary, secondary, and tertiary care institutions. In the public sector the primary health centers and the sub-centers (SCs) are the primary level of health care providing a comprehensive health care to rural and tribal population. A sub-health center (sub-center) is the most peripheral and first point of contact between the primary health care system and the community. Due to the establishment of sub-centers, primary health centers, and community health centers in India, the healthcare sector shows a tremendous improvement. Despite these improvements, India still faces many gaps in the healthcare delivery system in rural and tribal areas. Access to health care depends on how health care is provided. In Andhra Pradesh despite many efforts by the government, tribal populations generally have poor health outcomes, often because of a healthcare delivery system that does not cater to their needs. Although the health care system uses innovative technologies and doctors, healthcare services lack infrastructure and other health care facilities in primary health centers, sub-centers and community health centres. The tribes in Warangal district have been experiencing a very high morbidity due to water-borne and vector-borne diseases and other vaccine-preventable diseases. In this context, the present study intended to find out the functioning of sub-centres and the effectiveness in bringing the health care services in Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) areas in Warangal district of undivided Andhra Pradesh. It is a cross-sectional study data was collected from sub-centers through specific pre-designed questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussion. Data was collected from medical officers, support staff, patients, community members and other stakeholders.