Original Research Article
Year: 2021 | Month: March | Volume: 8 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 507-519
Nutritional Status of Tribal and Non-Tribal Children (Under 5) in Purulia District of West Bengal: A Comparative Study
Sudipta Das1, Aparajita Dasgupta2, Malay Kumar Das3
1Demonstrator, Dept. of Community Medicine, Medical College, Kolkata.
2Ex Prof. and Head of the Dept. of P.S.M, AIIH & PH, Kolkata.
3Demonstrator, Dept. of Community Medicine, Murshidabad Medical College
Corresponding Author: Sudipta Das
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Nutrition is the cornerstone of socioeconomic development of a country. Childhood under nutrition is a critical public health problem in India in general but among tribal population more particularly. The present study aimed at comparative assessment of nutritional status among tribal and nontribal under 5 children.
Method: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Purulia district of West Bengal among 112 tribal and nontribal under 5 children. Demographic, socioeconomic, maternal and birth characteristics were recorded in pre-designed, pre-tested structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Anthropometric examinations were performed following standard operating protocol.
Results: Prevalence of under nutrition among tribal under 5 children was 69.6% whereas among non-tribal children it was 50.9%. Under nutrition was significantly more in tribal under 5 children compared to their non-tribal counterpart [OR= 2.22 (1.28-3.85)]. But this significant difference between tribal and non-tribal children in respect to nutritional status was lost when adjusted with socio economic variables [AOR=0.52(0.21-1.28)]. In final model also where all covariates were adjusted, there was no significant difference in nutritional status among tribal and non-tribal children [AOR=0.56(0.15-2.17)].
Conclusion: Increased prevalence of under nutrition among tribal children was not due to ethnicity but difference among both group in respect to socio-economic variables and access and utilization of MCH services played the key role. An integrated multi-sectoral coordinated approach for overall improvement of standard of life of tribal population is required.
Keywords: Under-weight, Wasting, Stunting, Tribal under-5 children, Non tribal under-5 children.
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