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Abstract

Background: The traditional knowledge and belief about the sanctity and medicinal properties of opium has been continued in many parts of India especially among tribal communities. Traditional usage of opium has been recorded among the tribal community of Northeast India especially in Arunachal Pradesh. The study investigates the possible social interaction of local tribal community with others living together in the same village for livelihood and its influence on increasing opium usage among the non-traditional users. Methodology: Data collected on opium use in a study conducted in tribal dominated area of Arunachal Pradesh has been used to understand the impact of social interaction on increasing opium use. Of the sample of 65 villages and 4247 respondents (age 15 years & above) selected randomly, opium users were recorded only in 39 villages (2543 respondents). Of which 7 villages has mixed population of tribes (local) and non-tribes (others); 31 villages has population of only tribes; and one village has only non-tribal population. Results: Overall, prevalence of opium users among the respondents of 39 villages was 9.3%, but the prevalence in mixed type of villages was 14% (14.4% among local tribes and 12.0% among others) whereas it was comparatively low among the respondents of sample of villages mainly recorded as tribal villages (8.3%) and non-tribal villages (1.4%). The high prevalence of opium use among the tribes was mainly due to traditional belief and practices which has been discussed. However, the increasing opium use among the non-tribal community was mainly due to close social interaction with neighbouring community as they were living together in the same village. Conclusion: Traditional use of opium among the tribes was the main cause of increasing opium usage among the neighbouring (non-tribal) community especially due to close social interaction. The findings may be useful for institution of epidemiological intervention to reduce opium use.

Biography

Himanshu K. Chaturvedi completed his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Statistics from TM Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur, Bihar, INDIA. Dr. Chaturvedi has received many honour and awards. He is a distinguished senior level Scientist at National Institute of Medical Statistics of ICMR, New Delhi, India and Ph.D. Supervisor in Medical Statistics of GGSIP University, New Delhi. He served as a PI/Co-PI of many National Level projects and also as a member of many scientific committees. The area of his research work is epidemiological studies of harmful substance usage, risk factors of non-communicable disease, estimation of disease burden and health seeking behaviour of people. Besides that many training workshops on statistical methods, clinical and epidemiological research has been organized by him. He has published more than 40 papers in peer reviewed national and international journals.

Email: chaturvedi_icmr@yahoo.com