BELIEFS RELATED TO SELECTED COMPONENTS OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AMONG ADOLESCENT MARRIED GIRLS OF BIRHOR AND KOLHA TRIBES IN OUPADA BLOCK, BALASORE

Health-related practices of tribal adolescent married girls are guided by health beliefs which are more likely to affect positively on their reproductive wellbeing.It was a descriptive survey conducted to understand the beliefs regarding menstrual hygiene, sexual behavior and nutritional status of 100 adolescent married girls (50 Birhor and 50 Kolha) in Oupada Block, Balasore District,Odishaa.Convenience sampling was used and data were obtained through the use of a structured interview schedule.The hypothesis under test was that there are no significant differences in reproductive health beliefs between Birhor and Kolha.In the same line of thinking, 100% Birhor girls considered menstruation as God's gift against only 70% Kolha girls.For the sexual behavior, all participants thought that adolescent age is right for pregnancy desire and 100% Birhor girls thought that it is right to marry just after menarche.Dietary beliefs : All individuals responded forest food is the healthiest (100% from both tribes participants) and 90 per cent Birhors and 54 per cent Kolhas replied no other food was required in addition to forest produce.There were substantial contrasts among the tribes in their attitudes to menstruation cleansing methods, contraception and nutrition.Conclusion: The study recommends appropriate culturally sensitive health education interventions among these tribal adolescents to improve reproductive health outcomes, as strongly held traditional beliefs are deeply rooted in the society.