A Sociological Study on Khumi Indigenous People in Bandarban District
All societies have medical systems that provide a theory of disease etiology, methods for the diagnosis of illness and prescription and practices of both curative and preventive therapies. The process by which the indigenous people traditionally maintain their health care is not commendable in the present technological age. Most of the indigenous people do not know the uniqueness of modern health facilities. So they remain in the customary health practices which are increasing their illness and death rate time to time. These practices are the responsible for the high illness and death but they never understand affect of the customary health practices. In reality, the indigenous people live in close proximity with nature and they are habituated to the customary health practices. Illiteracy, income, occupation, religious beliefs, traditional health beliefs and inadequate modern health facilities are influencing them to sustain the customary health practices. This research monograph will discuss patterns and consequences of customary health practices on Khumi indigenous people, a small indigenous group at Bandarban district of Bangladesh and try to find out the implicit causes of customary health practices and its ultimate consequences.