Traditional Health Practices of Kumaoni Women: Continuity and Change

The medicalization of life in the contemporary world has dominated the health scenario, an approach that has ignored the holistic knowledge of traditional societies. This book examines the traditional health practices of women in the Kumaon Hills (Uttaranchal) with special focus on reproductive and child health. Rituals and practices related to menstruation, delivery, post-delivery, antenatal care and child health have been understood by ‘listening’ to women who are the holders and practitioners of this traditional wisdom. The theoretical conceptual framework reiterates the inter-connectedness of culture, health and development. The major health concerns of women, their access to healthcare, the role of NGOs and the government infrastructure in providing health facilities and building the capacities of women in the community have been examined in detail. Based on the insights of the first phase of the research, the second part of the book focuses on addressing the health needs of adolescent girls in Uttaranchal. A module on productive and child health has been developed keeping culture-specifics of this region in mind and building on the traditional knowledge and wisdom of women.