Health Status and Health Care Utilisation among Scheduled Caste People in Rural Kerala

Health means complete physical, mental and social well-being of an individual. It is not merely the absence of disease, injury or distress that a person tends to view ones capacity to carry his daily activities. Health is the condition of being sound in body, mind or spirit especially freedom from physical disease or pain (Webster). It is a positive quality of living body of which fitness for ones work and happiness are distinguishing marks. On the background of this view, health condition of Kerala is deteriorating among the marginalized sections of society. Mortality and morbidity rate among marginalized group particularly among women is increasing day by day.