Singh, Shiv Kumar. (2015). Child health care practices among the Gond tribe of Mandla District of Madhya Pradesh. Unpublished. Ph.D., Education. Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur.

Objectives of the study The proposed study has the following major objectives: (i) To study the prevailing cultural practices pertaining to delivery and newborn. (ii) To study the perception and practices pertaining to breastfeeding and supplementary food habits. (iii) To study the perception and utilization of child immunization services. (iv) To study the knowledge and perception of childhood morbidity and mortality and treatment of common childhood morbidity. (v) To study the perception regarding child health care services provided by Government other health posts and the felt need of the tribe.Hypothesis of Study 1. Value dimension of the children has a greater role to play regarding the care of the children of a particular gender. 2. Better is the education and economic condition better is the chance to provide the maximum facilities to the child. 3. Lack of supplementary food and poor economic condition leads to longer breast feeding practices. 4. Lesser is the education poorer will be the immunization practices.

(b) Sample Size The sample size is estimated by using the relationship n = (4pq / L2 ) x 2.5 p= 0.1542 (It is the proportion of ST children in the age 0-5 years out of total ST population in India according to Census, 2001). q = 1-p = 0.8458 L= Limit of committing error 5% (i.e. 95% confidence level) = 0.05 2.5 is the factor multiplied to the above relationship as design effect since the samples will be selected from multiple clusters. The estimated sample size is n= [(4x 0.1542 x 0.8458)/ (0.05x0.05)] x2.5 = 521.68 ~ 522, i.e. mothers of 522 children in the age group 0-5 years will be interviewed. Care will be taken to interview one women from each household. (c) Selection of Villages Since these are multiethnic but Gond dominated villages, assuming availability of 20 households (having children in the age up to 5 years in a villages) at the time of survey. The study will be restricted to two blocks viz., Bijadandi (Adjacent to urban areas) and Niwas (away from urban areas). The number of villages to be studied is estimated and its proportionate allocation to the blocks is show below: If 20 households are to be surveyed in one village than number of villages required to cover a sample of 522 women’s interviewers (making one interview in one household) [522÷20 =26.1 villages] Total no. of villages in the two study blocks are 253. Therefore constant for proportion (k) is 26.1 ÷ 253 = 0.103 Multiplying constant (k) to number of villages in each of the blocks will fix the number of villages to be covered from the two study blocks. Block 1(Bijadandi) No. of villages x k=146 x 0.103 = 15 villages. Block 2(Niwas) No. of villages x k = 107 x 0.103 = 11 villages. Block 1, 15 villages x 20households = 300 households Block 2, 11 villages x 20 households = 220 households Total = 520 households Therefore required 522 household – 520 household = 2 household. Two short household will be distributed in the two blocks (one each in any village). The required number of villages from each block will be selected randomly from the village list.Basic components of a survey instruments The survey instruments will comprise of broadly 5 sections:- Sections Components Ist Section Background information of the respondents which will include both socio-economic and demographic information. IInd Section Cultural practices pertaining to ANC, delivery and new born. IIIrd Section Perception and practices on breastfeeding and supplementary nutrition. IVth Section Knowledge and perception on childhood morbidity. Skipping pattern will be adapted to same the wastage of time during survey and smooth interviewing. Sections Components Ist Section Background information of the respondents which will include both socio-economic and demographic information. IInd Section Cultural practices pertaining to ANC, delivery and new born. IIIrd Section Perception and practices on breastfeeding and supplementary nutrition. IVth Section Knowledge and perception on childhood morbidity.Study design This is an exploratory study and which will resort to both the technique of quantitative and qualitative method of data collection to study the objectives. (A) Quantitative Method of Data Collection. (a) Unit of Study Gond women having children aged up to 5 years forms the unit of study. (b) Sample Size The sample size is estimated by using the relationship n = (4pq / L2 ) x 2.5 p= 0.1542 (It is the proportion of ST children in the age 0-5 years out of total ST population in India according to Census, 2001). q = 1-p = 0.8458 L= Limit of committing error 5% (i.e. 95% confidence level) = 0.05 2.5 is the factor multiplied to the above relationship as design effect since the samples will be selected from multiple clusters. The estimated sample size is n= [(4x 0.1542 x 0.8458)/ (0.05x0.05)] x2.5 = 521.68 ~ 522, i.e. mothers of 522 children in the age group 0-5 years will be interviewed. Care will be taken to interview one women from each household. (c) Selection of Villages Since these are multiethnic but Gond dominated villages, assuming availability of 20 households (having children in the age up to 5 years in a villages) at the time of survey. The study will be restricted to two blocks viz., Bijadandi (Adjacent to urban areas) and Niwas (away from urban areas). The number of villages to be studied is estimated and its proportionate allocation to the blocks is show below: If 20 households are to be surveyed in one village than number of villages required to cover a sample of 522 women’s interviewers (making one interview in one household) [522÷20 =26.1 villages] Total no. of villages in the two study blocks are 253. Therefore constant for proportion (k) is 26.1 ÷ 253 = 0.103 Multiplying constant (k) to number of villages in each of the blocks will fix the number of villages to be covered from the two study blocks. Block 1(Bijadandi) No. of villages x k=146 x 0.103 = 15 villages. Block 2(Niwas) No. of villages x k = 107 x 0.103 = 11 villages. Block 1, 15 villages x 20households = 300 households Block 2, 11 villages x 20 households = 220 households Total = 520 households Therefore required 522 household – 520 household = 2 household. Two short household will be distributed in the two blocks (one each in any village). The required number of villages from each block will be selected randomly from the village list. (d) Survey Instrument A pre designed survey instrument Data entry and Management Data will be entered in Microsoft excel Data Based Management file software 2007. After entry data will be completely cleaned before it is exported to SPSS version 13 & 16 analytical soft ware for analysis.

Child health practices are good and not found the significance in the study area.

a) The message regarding child health care practices should be disseminated by “one to one approach” by organizing in village levels and small gatherings at village level etc. b) Mass media, both print and electronic, should be utilized and community organizations mobilized to disseminate correct and relevant information about child health programmes. c) The IEC strategy must include in villages from different aspects of life to promote the utilization of child health Programmes. d) Educational programmes needs to be designed and implemented within the ambit of maternal and child health Programmes to the students in high schools and colleges so as to increase awareness and competence in Health Programmes. e) Research should be promoted to know the reasons for not accepting the health programmes in order to select suitable strategies to sustain regular practice over time. f) A regular training program needs to be designed and implemented with the aim of capacity building of the peripheral health workers, so as to make them competent and to update their knowledge in the health programmes, thus enabling them to teach the various advantages of these maternal and child Health Programmes. g) In addition, further studies are recommended to remote area for explore the reasons of knowledge regarding the child Health Programmes in the general population, especially those from rural area where two thirds of the Indian population resides and where access to information is still a challenge.

Keyword(s): Sociology of Education