An Anthropological Analysis of Evil Eye, Evil Spirits, and Ancestral Spirits Afflictions: Parengi Porja Tribal Women Views About Illness Etiologies and Its Treatment Practices

Abstract

This article aims to understand the perception of Parengi Porja’s ways of illness treatments and health management. The Parengi Porja is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Population (PVTG), inhabiting the hilly regions of Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. They strongly believe in supernatural agents as being the cause of illness. For this study, the Parengi Porja tribal mothers were purposively selected from five villages situated in the study district. We used participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, case studies, and semistructured interview schedules. We conducted five focus group discussions (FGDs) to understand the reasons for illness, and its diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Data types include demographic variables, incidences of illnesses, and their management. The study shows that this tribal population has its own understanding about the illness etiology and management strategy to regain healthy life.