Paper short abstract:

Investigating healthcare disparities, this study, utilising Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), emphasises transdisciplinary approaches for informed biosocial interventions, addressing socio-environmental complexities to enhance health outcomes.

Paper long abstract:

This study critically examines healthcare disparities within the rural and indigenous communities of Jharkhand, India, shedding light on the intricate structural factors contributing to the state's poor health outcomes. With a significant tribal population and ranking as one of India's least healthy and second-poorest states, Jharkhand serves as a poignant case study. Utilising the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) method in villages, the research navigates the complex interplay of inadequate sanitation infrastructure, limited access to clean water, and cultural barriers affecting healthcare services.

Aligned with the conference theme, the study underscores the imperative for more effective transdisciplinary engagement, acknowledging the socio-environmental complexities in urban, rural, and developing environments. The findings contribute to the ongoing dialogue on the limitations of conceptual simplifications in defining 'the social,' echoing the conference's call to move beyond empirically thin measurements. Emphasising collaboration, the study aligns with the conference's goal of exploring how anthropologists can contribute to bio-social informed ecological health and policy interventions.

This research, grounded in a community-driven approach, advocates for inclusive participation, particularly through approaches like Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). By unpacking healthcare disparities and their underlying causes, the study aims to inform targeted interventions, striving not only to minimise existing disparities but also to contribute to the broader global agenda of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Keywords: Healthcare Disparity, PRA, SDG, Socio-environmental Complexities, Transdisciplinary Engagement