A comparative study on fish intake and nutritional status of children in different area of Sylhet district, Bangladesh (original) (raw)

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 75 children aged five to ten years old from three different areas (urban, N = 25, sub-urban, N= 25 and rural, N = 25) in Sylhet district, Bangladesh. This present study was undertaken in order to analyze and compare the fish consumption rate and nutritional status of children among these areas. Nutritional status of the target children (both sex) were analyzed with the help of anthropometric measurements which included weight, height Body Mass Index (BMI) and fish consumption rate. This study found that the average heights for both male and female children were 1.16 m, 1.15 m and 1.13 m in urban, sub-urban and rural areas respectively. At the same time, the average weight was 20.08 kg, 19.19 kg and 18.19 kg in urban, sub-urban and rural areas respectively. On the other hand, the average BMI for both sex were 17.35, 14.69 and 14.36 in urban, sub-urban and rural areas respectively. The average fish consumption rate were also calculated and the highest average fish consumption were found in urban area which was 88.98 g and lowest average fish consumption were found in rural area that was 81.85 g for both sex. These findings also revealed that the children in rural area were stunted, underweight and severe thinness than urban and suburban areas.