In a vast, multi-ethnic, multi-religious country like India, it is to be expected that we have several world-views operating at the same time in people's search for health and healing.

In a vast, multi-ethnic, multi-religious country like India, it is to be expected that we have several world-views operating at the same time in people's search for health and healing.

Following the International Population and Development Conference in Cairo, there is widespread consensus in the international community that family planning programs must be people-centered, and further, that family planning programs should focus not just on contraception per se,but on the repro

In India, under the influence of various socio-cultural factors, a large number of parents marry off their daughters during adolescence. [1] In many traditional and conservative societies, sex is still considered taboo and sexual matters are generally not discussed in the family.

While the world's major killer disease, smallpox, that used to claim millions of lives has been eliminated, the planet has been struck with a more dreaded disease, AIDS or Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome.

Health of an individual is closely linked to his/her status in the society. Women universally have lower status. The society ascribes to the two sexes different attitudes, feelings, values, behaviours and activities.

Medical and public health experts advocate breastfeeding as the best method of feeding young infants for a wide variety of reasons.

THERE is enough evidence to show that often, development policies adopted by governments have widened the disparities amongst sections of people.

For the year 1993 (latest available) Registrar General of India reports a death rate of 9 per 1000 population. World Bank (1993, p.290) reports the same figure as a death rate for the countries that the Bank classifies as high income economies (HIEs).

Every society has its own traditional beliefs and practices related to health care. Beliefs in supernatural powers, i.e.