Robin D. Tribhuwan. Modern and Traditional Perspectives of Osteoporosis:An Ethno-Orthopedic Study. (). สำนักวิทยบริการและสารสนเทศ มหาวิทยาลัยนานาชาติเอเชีย-แปซิฟิก. : , .
Modern and Traditional Perspectives of Osteoporosis:An Ethno-Orthopedic Study
For centuries before the inception of modern medicine, traditional folk, the world over, had developed
culture specific beliefs and practices regarding health and disease. This paper unveils the socio-cultural
beliefs and practices regarding Osteoporosis among the Gond and the Thakur tribal folk inhabiting the state
of Maharashtra in India. Through in-depth interviews of the patients, their families, the religious leaders
and the village elders belonging to the Gadchiroli and Raigad districts of Maharashtra, valuable qualitative
information was gathered and analyzed. To be more precise, qualitative data was gathered through in-depth
interviews of 50 Thakurs, 50 Gonds, 5 bone setters, 5 herbalists and 5 midwives. It is interesting to note that
the traditional views of the tribal folk regarding Osteoporosis and its etiology, the growth and development of
the human bones, are very different and rather weird from those of the allopathic interpretations in modern
medicine. There is an urgent need to carry out more ethno-orthopedic studies on the tribal folk throughout
India and to recommend practical strategies to create awareness among them about the cause and care of
Osteoporosis which primarily affects the senior female population over the age of 50 but to a lesser degree
the senior male population over the age of 50 as well.