Sexual and reproductive health issues of adolescent girls of Kharia tribe: A study on Mayurbhanj district of Odisha

In the tribal population, girls are more neglected because of limited healthcare facilities in their places and a lack of education. Adolescent sexual and reproductive health has been overlooked historically despite the high risks that countries face for its neglect. Some of the challenges faced by adolescent girls across the world include early pregnancy and parenthood difficulties, accessing contraception and safe abortion, and high of anemia and sexually transmitted infections. Various political, economic, and socio-cultural factors restrict the delivery of information and services; healthcare workers often act as a barrier to care by failing to provide young people with supportive, non-judgmental youth youth-appropriate services. This study explores the sexual and reproductive health status of adolescent tribal girls of the Kharia tribes in Odisha, aiming to provide insights into their healthcare needs and challenges. Kharia, an indigenous community, faces unique socio-economic and cultural contexts that influence health outcomes. The health status of Kharia adolescent girls reveals prevalent issues such as malnutrition, anemia, and reproductive health challenges.Their healthcare practices are influenced by traditional healing practices, family dynamics, and perceptions of modern healthcare. Efforts to improve health outcomes among Kharia adolescent girls should prioritize culturally sensitive interventions, community engagement, and enhancing access to healthcare services. Addressing these factors is crucial for promoting the well-being and development of Kharia girls in Odisha. Aims and Objectives 1. To explore cultural beliefs and practices influencing health health-seeking behavior of adolescent girls. 2. To analyze the reproductive health status and access to maternal health care services. 3. To assess the level of awareness regarding health issues and availability of healthcare services among adolescent girls and their family members. Materials and Methods: To assess the reproductive health status of the tribal adolescent girl’s exploratory research is used. Kusumi block of Mayurbhanj district is the area of the study, and for the collection of primary data, a small self-administered interview schedule is institutionalized. The sample comprises 30 participants from the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. Findings and Conclusion: Odisha’s unique geography and topography make it vulnerable to natural calamities such as cyclones and floods of unprecedented scale almost every year. In such circumstances, women and adolescent girls struggle to manage their menstruation safely, comfortably and with dignity owing to inadequate access to safe and private sanitation facilities, unavailability of culturally appropriate menstrual material and supplies, and timely access to menstrual health and hygiene-related information. The study underscores the urgent need fora multi-faceted approach to improve the health status and healthcare access for Kharia adolescent girls in Odisha. By addressing nutritional deficiencies, enhancing health education, improving health care infrastructure, and integrating traditional practices with modern medicine, significant progress can be made in ensuring better health outcomes for this vulnerable population.