Abstract

The World Health Organization has defined health as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not mere absence of disease or impairment. This essentially reflects that all the three determinants have a crucial role in the preservation of health or etiology of a disease. However, from a public health point of view, the program managers have realized that in order to implement any health promoting strategy successfully, it is of crucial importance to address the socio-cultural customs and beliefs prevalent in the members of the community. Currently, the strategy of social diagnosis is advocated so that based on the diagnosis, measures are implemented to keep an individual’s social environment free from harmful agents. To conclude, socio-cultural parameters have a crucial role in the health and disease, and thus the need of the hour is to address and supports the total social, emotional and educational needs of the young and the entire family.

Key words: Health, socio-cultural, community, dietary habits, family