Shah Irshad Ahmad, Gadda Zakir Hussain, Ganayee Shameem Ahamad, Jahangir Mohmad Saleem, Kumar Hilal Ahmad, Shafi Aneesa
Department of Sociology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, J&K, India.
Government Degree College, Baramulla, J&K, India.
Matern Child Health J. 2025 May;29(5):676-685. doi: 10.1007/s10995-025-04092-9. Epub 2025 Apr 29.
This study examines the critical issue of maternal health among tribal women in developing countries, with a specific focus on the Bakerwal tribe in Kashmir. Tribal women encounter significant challenges, including poverty, restricted access to medical facilities, and inadequate maternal care. Understanding these barriers is essential for addressing maternal health disparities and improving healthcare interventions tailored to their unique socio-cultural and economic conditions.
The research was conducted among the Bakerwal community in Check Village, Anantnag, using a qualitative approach to explore maternal health experiences. Given the community's low literacy levels, restricted healthcare access, and limited social mobility, data were collected from 20 tribal women who had recently given birth. Employing purposive sampling and guided by the principle of data saturation, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 Bakerwal women and 5 healthcare professionals specializing in maternal care. This approach facilitated a deeper understanding of the maternal health challenges within the cultural and socio-economic context of the community.
The study reveals that Bakerwal tribal women are experiencing a transitional phase in maternal health, shaped by socio-economic and cultural challenges. Poverty restricts their ability to afford nutritious food, exacerbating malnutrition and related health risks. Limited awareness and deeply rooted cultural norms further hinder the integration of pregnancy into their daily lives. Financial constraints not only reinforce stereotypes but also contribute to infrequent hospital visits, limiting access to essential maternal healthcare. Despite their heightened vulnerability to health risks, significant barriers, including geographical isolation, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and cultural apprehensions, continue to obstruct their access to timely medical treatment.
The maternal health of Bakerwal tribal women in Kashmir faces significant challenges at the intersection of poverty, cultural norms, and limited healthcare access. Economic constraints, lack of awareness, and the marginalization of pregnancy within their lifestyle contribute to malnutrition, infrequent hospital visits, and heightened health risks. Caught between tradition and modernity, their maternal health remains vulnerable to systemic disparities. Addressing these issues requires culturally sensitive interventions, improved healthcare infrastructure, and targeted awareness programs to bridge existing gaps and ensure equitable maternal care.
本研究探讨发展中国家部落妇女的孕产妇健康这一关键问题，特别关注克什米尔的贝克瓦尔部落。部落妇女面临重大挑战，包括贫困、获得医疗设施的机会有限以及孕产妇护理不足。了解这些障碍对于解决孕产妇健康差距以及改进针对其独特社会文化和经济状况的医疗保健干预措施至关重要。
该研究在阿南特纳格县切克村的贝克瓦尔社区开展，采用定性方法探索孕产妇健康经历。鉴于该社区识字率低、医疗保健机会有限且社会流动性受限，从20名近期分娩的部落妇女中收集数据。采用目的抽样法，并以数据饱和原则为指导，对12名贝克瓦尔妇女和5名专门从事孕产妇护理的医疗专业人员进行了深入访谈。这种方法有助于在社区的文化和社会经济背景下更深入地了解孕产妇健康挑战。
研究表明，贝克瓦尔部落妇女正经历孕产妇健康的过渡阶段，受到社会经济和文化挑战的影响。贫困限制了她们购买营养食品的能力，加剧了营养不良及相关健康风险。意识有限和根深蒂固的文化规范进一步阻碍了怀孕融入她们的日常生活。经济限制不仅强化了刻板印象，还导致她们很少去医院就诊，限制了获得基本孕产妇医疗保健的机会。尽管她们更容易受到健康风险的影响，但包括地理隔离、医疗基础设施不足和文化担忧在内的重大障碍继续阻碍她们获得及时的医疗治疗。
克什米尔贝克瓦尔部落妇女的孕产妇健康在贫困、文化规范和医疗保健机会有限的交汇处面临重大挑战。经济限制、意识缺乏以及怀孕在她们生活方式中的边缘化导致营养不良、很少去医院就诊以及健康风险增加。她们夹在传统与现代之间，孕产妇健康仍然容易受到系统性差距的影响。解决这些问题需要文化敏感的干预措施、改善医疗基础设施以及有针对性的提高意识项目，以弥合现有差距并确保公平的孕产妇护理。
