Abstract
According to the constitution of WHO (1948) “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well bring and not merely absence of disease or infirmity”. This broad concept of health implies a perfect harmony of man’s internal environment with his external environment consisting of physical, chemical, and biological surroundings. It can be measured based on the parameters like sex ratio, literacy, marriage practices, age at marriage, fertility, mortality, life expectancy at birth, nutritional status and mother’s health, forest ecology, childbearing and maternal mortality, maternal and child health care practices, family and welfare programs, sexually transmitted disease, a genetic disorder, etc. The health of a society is intimately related to its value system, its philosophical and cultural tradition, and its social, economic, and political organization. Since health is influenced by all these aspects it is not possible to raise the health status and quality of life of the people unless such efforts are integrated with wider efforts to bring about an overall transformation of the society as a whole. So, the health problems and practices of any community are profoundly influenced by the interplay of social, economic, and practical factors. The common beliefs, customs, and practices connected with health and diseases are intimately related to the treatment of disease (Bali 1988). The influencing factors related to both internal and external environments vary from the community in a vast country like India and, therefore, there is found a variety of health among communities. Tribal health which represents the best of this conception is found changing. Hence, this study tries to understand tribal health in the context of the Mishing.