摘要：People living in tribal areas often faced obstacles in accessing basic health care services
due to remoteness and backwardness of the areas in which they live. Understanding the health care
needs of tribal people in these difficult circumstances with special focus on utilization of tribal
indigenous medicinal substances is significant for devising comprehensive programs. Data on socioeconomic
status, knowledge on indigenous medicine, beliefs, practices, and health seeking behaviors
were collected from traditional healers and service providers in the primary health centres in two
villages- Mualnuam and Thuangtam in Manipur, India. The methods of data collection include survey,
group discussions and social mapping. The health care services as part of the larger public health
domain, is in a very poor state both in terms of infrastructure and service providers. Nearly all the
women respondents indicated their preference towards indigenous medicine or home made remedies
and traditional healers at the primary stage of their illness. Thus, scope of indigenous medicine
becomes important. Peoples¡¯ belief in indigenous medicine can play a vital role in implementing
Government programmes on improving and promoting Indian system of medicine in rural areas and at
the same time recognizing the local tribal medicine.
关键词：Indigenous; traditional healers; providers; utilization
