Table 2.

A research agenda for descriptive studies on least studied population groups

Population groups to be studied  i. Muslims and other religious minorities  ii. Nomadic tribes  iii. Urban homeless  iv. Migrants  v. ‘Left behind’ households of migrants  vi. Adolescents  vii. Elderly  viii. Single (never married/widowed/separated)  ix. Persons living with physical/psychosocial disabilities  x. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex communities  xi. Sex workers  xii. People living with HIV/AIDS  xiii. Communities living in the north-eastern states of India

Health outcomes i. Overall health needs of specific populations ii. Specific health conditions about which there is limited information (e.g. cervical cancer); specific health conditions in specific population groups (e.g. tuberculosis in elderly or internal migrants) iii. Ignored health needs of specific populations, e.g. beyond sexual and reproductive health for adolescents, beyond HIV for people living with HIV/AIDS iv. Nutritional status i. Quality of life, perceived psychological and physical wellbeing

Health behaviours  i. Health literacy/awareness of healthy behaviours and symptoms of health problems  ii. Care-seeking behaviour (from whom, after how many days, for which conditions)  iii. Access and utilisation, unmet need for healthcare/treatment compliance/treatment completion and barriers to these  iv. Experience with healthcare providers/in healthcare facilities