Safe-motherhood continues to pose a serious threat to all communities in all developing countries. In India, it is a subject of great concern for policy makers, administrators, researchers, and others. In order to achieve the universal goal of ‘Health For All’ (1978 Alma Ata Declaration), India will have to prioritize the concern for health problems of the most vulnerable and marginalized tribal women.

This study explores the most sensitive health problems of tribal mothers through intensive fieldwork method of sociology and social anthropology. Tribals are very unique in their culture and tribal women have very unique way to handle their maternity (and overall health too). The book explores maternal health problems of Santhal mothers in a holistic perspective through a study of tribal villages in Jharkhand region. In addition to applying the participant observation method, the author has used census reports, open-ended discussions and different case inspections of Santhal men and women to interpret the method of maternity conduction. It explores their traditional ways, past problems, existing problems, and also covers the changes over the generations.

The study explores how the objective conditions of life, including the emergent change, are linked with people’s subjective orientations, including values and norms of maternal health. The author also has very keen observation on the reasons behind their maternal deprivation and explores economic, political and educational backwardness, as well as discriminatory attitude of other community towards them.

This book is useful not only for students of sociology, anthropology, social work, community medicine, public health and nursing, but also for the policy makers, health practitioners and health managers too.