Bridging the Gaps: Research Priorities and Policy Directions for Tribal Health in Odisha

Abstract Background: Building on the tribe-specific epidemiological data provided by the Odisha Tribal Family Health Survey (OTFHS), the present study employed a priority-setting approach to identify health challenges, research priorities, and actionable strategies for tribal health policy and program planning. Objective: To identify health challenges, establish research priorities, and recommend strategies for addressing health inequities and improving outcomes among Odisha’s tribal communities. Methods: Discussions from the 2024 IAPSM Odisha State Branch conference, which disseminated OTFHS findings, were analyzed. Participants included policymakers, clinicians, academicians, and community representatives. Transcripts underwent thematic analysis using ATLAS.ti software. Stakeholder mapping identified key roles and relationships. Results: Key health system challenges include limited access to diagnostic services and essential medicines, fragmented care continuity for chronic diseases, and insufficient primary healthcare infrastructure, particularly in remote areas. Participants emphasized the potential for telemedicine expansion and strengthening supply chains. Cultural and behavioral influences, such as traditional dietary practices that contribute to persistent anemia, low uptake of formal health services, and harmful practices like open defecation, were also highlighted as major determinants. These findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive health education and community engagement interventions tailored to tribal contexts. Conclusions: This priority-setting exercise defined key health challenges (limited diagnostics, workforce and drug shortages, cultural barriers), outlined research priorities (intervention and delivery research, genetic and microbiome studies, operational health systems research), and proposed strategies (telemedicine expansion, community health navigators, culturally sensitive health education, and multisectoral collaboration) to bridge the gap between evidence and policy for improving tribal health in Odisha.