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DISEASE PATTERNS IN DIFFERENT INDIAN COMMUNITIES
O P Kapoor
Hon. Visiting Physician, Jaslok Hospital and Bombay Hospital, Mumbai, Ex. Hon. Prof. of Medicine, Grant Medical College and JJ Hospital, Mumbai 400 008.
India is a huge country. Unlike other big nations, for instance Russia, China and the USA, the Indian population consists of many communities with different cultures and habits. The result is that the disease patterns are quite different in these discrete sub-populations, which are genetically and in behavior very disparate. This is because of the unique customs, diets, fixed habits and ideas in the minds of individuals of each community.When we discuss health we include physical, sexual and mental health.
Sexual health of certain communities in our country is very poor because of their attitude towards sex in their social circle.
Mental health : In certain Hindu and many Muslim families, at times in the joint family, there are 15 to 20 members. The mental health of these persons especially ladies is very poor. This is due to multiple problems they face in the joint family system. The doctors go on giving drugs based on a physical illness without any good results. In contrast these types of illnesses are rare in Catholics where even with a joint family system, the members are less and there is freedom of expression to all daughters-in-law.
The big cities of India, and Bombay in particular essentially have cosmopolitan population. A physician is bound to face different types of problems. A book, brought out by the Association of Physicians of India, to throw light on this problem has not covered many important aspects.
We can also subdivide the illnesses according to sub-communities. For example Hindus will have to be classed as Maharashtrians, Punjabis, Gujaratis, Marwaris and Bhaiyas of UP and Bihar.
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