Anthropometric characteristics and nutritional status of rural school children. (original) (raw)
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Thinness is one of the biggest problems of children residing in rural or tribal areas in our country then their urban counterparts. Children are in growing age needs more varied nutrient to reach their full growth potential. Any obstruction during this stage leads to impaired physical and mental growth that furnishes poor productivity in their overall development. India is one of the most populated countries in the world having 13.0 % (approx) children of age range from 6-12. There were sparse information on nutritional status of children using the new internationally accepted body mass index (BMI) cut-off values are available, particularly from rural areas in India. The present cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of undernutrition using BMI among 6-12 years rural children of Kharagpur, Paschim Medinipur, District, West Bengal, India. A total of 500 (250 boys and 250 girls) children aged 2 to 12 years from five schools were measured. Commonly used indicators i.e., weight, height and BMI, were used to evaluate nutritional status. The overall prevalence of thinness was 77.6 % and 76.4 % among boys and girls, respectively. Girls are more undernourished (80.0 %), (80.5 %), (76.7 %) and (75.0 %) at age 6, 8, 9 and 12 years than their male counterpart (79.4 %), (77.1 %), (70.6 %) and (72.2 %) of the same age. However, Boys are more undernourished (81.1 %), (82.5 %) and (81.8%) at age 7, 10 and 11 years than the girls (74.4 %), (66.7 %) and (76.0 %) of same age.
Growth Pattern and Prevalence of Underweight and Stunting Among Rural Adolescents
A cross-sectional study of 1094 (boys = 665; girls = 429) rural school children aged 11-18 years of Midnapore Sadar North subdivision, Paschim Medinipur District, West Bengal, India, was undertaken to evaluate their growth pattern and nutritional status. Methodology: Anthropometric measurements including weight and height were measured following standard techniques. Underweight and stunting were used as indicators of nutritional status. Underweight and stunting were defined as weight-for-age (WAZ) and height-for-age (HAZ) <-2 z-scores, respectively, of the National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) guidelines. Results: Results revealed that boys were significantly heavier than girls from age 16 onwards; they were also significantly taller from age 14 years. The mean WAZ for boys and girls were -1.488 and -1.417, respectively. The corresponding mean values for HAZ were -1.317 and -1.486. The overall rates of underweight and stunting were 28.3% and 27.8%, respectively. The prevalence of underweight was significantly higher among boys (31.0%) than girls (24.2%). These rates for stunting were 27.4% and 28.4%, for the boys and girls. The rate of underweight and stunting was more in late adolescents (15-18 years) than early adolescents (11-14 years). In boys, the prevalence of stunting was significantly (1.5 times) more in late adolescents than early adolescents. According to the WHO classification for assessing severity of malnutrition, the rates of stunting were medium in both sexes. The rates of underweight were high and very high for girls and boys, respectively. Conclusion: In conclusion, present study provided evidence that the nutritional status of these adolescents were not satisfactory especially among late adolescents.
Assessment of Nutritional Status among 2 to 12 Years Children of Two Districts in West Bengal, India
The present study aims to provide the prevalence of thinness among children. The cross-sectional study using weight and stature were conducted on a sample of 2,310 children (1,144 boys and 1,166 girls) aged 2 to 12 years. Participants and their caretakers were informed about the objectives of the study prior to commencement of the study. Overall prevalence of under-nutrition shows that both boys (62.2%) and girls (62.6%) have very high (critical situation) prevalence of thinness. Highest prevalence of thinness among boys was found at the age of 8 years (67.6%) and among girls at age 4 years (82.2%). This study exemplifies the magnitude of childhood under-nutrition (thinness) in the above studied area. A similar study will serve as a resource for future child health interventions in the said areas. To fight under-nutrition among children, an integrated approach is recommended, combining effective community outreach a nd monitoring, nutrition thera py and expanded pa rtnerships w ith nutrition-related organizations in the region.
Malnutrition: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcomes, 2020
Child undernutrition remains an enduring public health concern in low-income and middle-income countries. The present cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of malnutrition among rural primary school children utilizing new internationally accepted age and sex specific cut offs of body mass index (BMI). Our study was conducted among 822 rural primary school children of Jangipara Block of Hooghly District, West Bengal, India. A total of 812 children (431 girls; 381 boys) aged from 6 to 10 years were eligible for the present study. Anthropometric variables like height in cm and weight in kg were measured according to standard procedures. The BMI was computed following the standard equation to evaluate the nutritional status of these children. All data was analysed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 16.0) software and significance level was set at p<0.05. Results of Independent Sample t test revealed that there was no statistically significant sex difference in mean height, weight and BMI. Significant age differences were observed for girls (HT: F = 117.597, p<0.001; WT: F = 37.210, p<0.001; and BMI: F = 3.988, p<0.01) as well as boys (HT: F = 104.184, p<0.001; WT: F = 26.602, p<0.001 and BMI: F = 2.838, p<0.05). The prevalence of overall thinness, normal, overweight and obese was 48.5%, 45.4%, 4.8% and 1.2%, respectively. No significant age group and sex wise differences were observed in prevalence of different nutritional status category except in overweight (χ2 = 9.538, df = 4 and p<0.05) category. Results of χ2 test also revealed that age combined sex differences in different grades of nutritional status were not statistically significant (χ2 = 4.112; df = 5 and p>0.05). Results indicated that girls were thinner than boys. In contrast, boys were prone to be overweight and obese. All regional studies (including the present) had reported very high prevalence rate of overall thinness according to World Health Organization. Most of the international and national studies had observed a lower rate of overall thinness than our study. In conclusion, the present study clearly indicated that half of the studied girls (50.6%) were undernourished and more boys were overweight and obese. Surveillance of present nutritional schemes and state specific appropriate and immediate new nutritional interventions are required to ameliorate the problem of malnutrition.
Prevalence of Malnutrition among Rural Bengalee Children of Hooghly District, West Bengal, India
MALNUTRITION: PREVALENCE, RISK FACTORS AND OUTCOMES , 2020
ABSTRACT Child undernutrition remains an enduring public health concern in low-income and middle-income countries. The present cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of malnutrition among rural primary school children utilizing new internationally accepted age and sex specific cut offs of body mass index (BMI). Our study was conducted among 822 rural primary school children of Jangipara Block of Hooghly District, West Bengal, India. A total of 812 children (431 girls; 381 boys) aged from 6 to 10 years were eligible for the present study. Anthropometric variables like height in cm and weight in kg were measured according to standard procedures. The BMI was computed following the standard equation to evaluate the nutritional status of these children. All data was analysed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 16.0) software and significance level was set at p<0.05. Results of Independent Sample t test revealed that there was no statistically significant sex difference in mean height, weight and BMI. Significant age differences were observed for girls (HT: F = 117.597, p<0.001; WT: F = 37.210, p<0.001; and BMI: F = 3.988, p<0.01) as well as boys (HT: F = 104.184, p<0.001; WT: F = 26.602, p<0.001 and BMI: F = 2.838, p<0.05). The prevalence of overall thinness, normal, overweight and obese was 48.5%, 45.4%, 4.8% and 1.2%, respectively. No significant age group and sex wise differences were observed in prevalence of different nutritional status category except in overweight (χ2 = 9.538, df = 4 and p<0.05) category. Results of χ2 test also revealed that age combined sex differences in different grades of nutritional status were not statistically significant (χ2 = 4.112; df = 5 and p>0.05). Results indicated that girls were thinner than boys. In contrast, boys were prone to be overweight and obese. All regional studies (including the present) had reported very high prevalence rate of overall thinness according to World Health Organization. Most of the international and national studies had observed a lower rate of overall thinness than our study. In conclusion, the present study clearly indicated that half of the studied girls (50.6%) were undernourished and more boys were overweight and obese. Surveillance of present nutritional schemes and state specific appropriate and immediate new nutritional interventions are required to ameliorate the problem of malnutrition. Keywords: malnutrition, children, nutritional status, thinness, body mass index
Nutritional status among boys and girls of a central Indian Town (Sagar)
Anthropological Review, 2015
The prevalence of undernutrition is a significant area of concern in many developing countries, where it is a major public health problem. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of undernutrition among school-going boys and girls of central Indian city Sagar, MP. A total of 612 individuals (312 girls and 300 boys) aged 5–18 years were examined and compared to the NCHS reference data. The nutritional status was assessed using following anthropometric indicators: body height and weight, body mass index (BMI) and composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF). It was found that girls were heavier (1 kg) and taller (2–5 cm) than boys up to 15 and 13 years of age, respectively. After that, boys became taller with 1 to 13 cm. The mean BMI of boys was higher to girls up to 10 year of age after that the trend was reversed. Comparison of the present findings with NCHS reference data revealed that Indian girls and boys were lagging behind. The difference in body weight between th...
A cross-sectional study on 1206 children (788 boys, 618 girls) aged 1-12 years, belonging to low socioeconomic status, of Barasat and Madhyamgram, West Bengal, India, was undertaken to investigate age and sex variations in height and weight. It also evaluated the levels of underweight and stunting among them. Anthropometric measurements included weight and height. Weight-for-age (WA) and height-for-age (HA) <-2 z-scores were used to evaluate underweight (UW) and stunting (ST), respectively, following the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Guidelines. Results showed that boys aged 4 and 11 years were significantly heavier than girls of corresponding ages. Boys aged 7 years were significantly taller than girls of the same age. Significant (p<0.001) age differences existed in mean weight and height in boys (weight: F=336.762; height: F=565.160) as well as girls (weight: F=275.320; height =498.715). Results also revealed that the mean z-scores of WA (WAZ) and HA (HAZ) were less than (negative values) those of NCHS for both sexes at all ages. The overall (age combined) rate of UW was 60.4% and 51.3%; while that of ST was 51.7% and 48.4%, in boys and girls, respectively. Based on World Health Organization classification of severity of malnutrition, the prevalence of UW and ST were very high (³30%) in both sexes. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the prevalence of UW and ST were very high among the subjects. Since the nutritional status of the subjects is not satisfactory, there is need for immediate supplementary nutrition.
This study investigated age and sex variations in height and weight, levels of stunting, underweight and wasting among 533 (254 boys; 279 girls) 3-to 5-year-old rural children of Bengalee ethnicity at 11 Integrated Child Development Services centres of Nadia District, West Bengal, India. Height-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-height < -2 z-scores were used to evaluate stunting, underweight and wasting, respectively, following the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Guidelines. Results revealed that boys were significantly heavier than girls at age 3 years. Significant age differences existed in mean height and weight in both sexes. Mean z-scores of height-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-height were lower than those of NCHS for both sexes at all ages. The overall (age and sex combined) rates of stunting, underweight and wasting were 23.9%, 31.0% and 9.4%, respectively.The rate of underweight and wasting was higher among girls (underweight = 35.1%, wasting = 12.2%) compared with boys (underweight = 26.5%, wasting = 6.3%). In general, the frequency of stunting increased with increasing age in both sexes. Based on the World Health Organization classification of severity of malnutrition, the overall prevalence of underweight was very high (Ն30%).The prevalence rates of stunting (20-29%) and wasting (5-9%) were medium.In conclusion,the nutritional status of the subjects is unsatisfactory. There is scope for improvement in the form of enhanced supplementary nutrition.
A school based cross sectional study to assess the nutritional status was conducted on total of 863 children (495 boys + 368 girls) ranging in age from 6 to 15 years and were measured for weight and height. Body Mass Index was calculated and data was classified to the different grades of nutritional status using BMI for age percentiles. Gross body measurements shows increasing trend with advancing age irrespective of the gender variations. In boys, from 6 to 15 years mean weight, height and BMI ranging between 20.9 to 53.9 kg, 116.9 to 164.8 cms and 15.2 to 19.7 kg/m2 respectively. In girls, from 6 to 15 years mean weight, height and BMI ranging between 19.1 to 49.1 kg, 115.8 to 157.7 cms and 14.1 to 19.6 kg/m2 respectively. Prevalence of malnutrition is more than the overweight and obesity in both girls and boys.