Barriers to hepatitis b prevention and care among the Irula Tribes: Addressing health disparities in a particularly vulnerable tribal groups.

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B infection rates are higher among the Irula tribes compared to other tribal communities in Tamil Nadu, India. Cultural practices such as tattooing, traditional medicine (e.g., bloodletting), rituals (e.g., scarification), and body piercing serve as potential sources of infection transmission. Additionally, limited access to government development programs further exacerbates their vulnerability. Given these challenges, the present study aims to assess the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) related to Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection among the Irula tribes of Tamil Nadu.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted among the Irula tribal population residing in the districts of Kancheepuram, Dharmapuri, and Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India. The study population was identified using the 2011 Census data. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed based on an extensive literature review and was pilot-tested before implementation. Data collection was carried out using Open Data Kit (ODK), and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 16.

RESULTS

A total of 1172 Irula adults participated in the study, with a mean age of 37 years (SD: 13.8). The majority of the respondents were female (79.2 %), while 44.1 % had no formal education, and 83.8 % were married. More than half (62.7 %) of the participants had heard about Hepatitis, and 46.3 % demonstrated a moderate level of knowledge regarding HBV. Among the participants, 25.5 % showed a poor attitude toward HBV infection and its transmission. However, a considerable proportion (64.9 %) reported good preventive practices related to HBV.

CONCLUSIONS

The study results highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to enhance awareness and improve preventive behaviours in this vulnerable community.