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Indian Pediatr 2009;46: 437-438 |
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Nutritional Status of Tribal (Garasia) School
Children of Sirohi District, Rajasthan |
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Sanjay Mandot, Deepika Mandot and Jityendra
Kumar Sonesh
Department of Pediatrics, J Watumull Global Hospital and
Research Centre, Mount Abu, Rajasthan 307 501.
E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract
We conducted this cross-sectional study in the
schools of Sirohi district having predominately tribal (Garasia)
children. Prevalence of stunting was 44% and 46.9% among boys 1255 and
762 girls aged 5-16, respectively using NCHS reference. Prevalence of
thinness was higher among boys (69.7%) than girls (59.3%).
Key Words: Garasia, India, Malnutrition, Prevalence, Tribe.
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G arasia
is a tribal community inhabitating the Sirohi district of South Rajasthan.
We conducted a study to find out the nutritional status of school children
belonging to this tribe. The study was conducted in 2007-2008 on 2017
children aged 5-16 years from government schools in randomly selected 13
villages with predominantly Garasia population – namely Ker, Isara,
Kacholi, Phula Bai Kheda, Umarani, Chandela, Girwar, Ganka, Manpur,
Danvaav, Torna, Nagpura and Golia Vas. A detailed medical
examination including anthropometry was done using standard procedures(1).
Children suffering from chronic disease were excluded. Height-for-age
below 3rd percentile of NCHS/WHO reference values(2) was classified as
stunting. Prevalence of stunting was also estimated using Indian
reference(3) BMI for age below 5th percentile of WHO reference values was
classified as thinness or chronic energy deficiency. Results are shown in
Table I.
TABLE I
Prevalence of Stunting and Thinness among Adolescents Boys and Girls
|
Boys |
Girls |
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Age |
No. |
Height(cm)
|
< 3rd percentile |
< 3rd percentile |
BMI |
< 5th percentile |
No. |
Height(cm) |
< 3rd percentile |
< 3rd percentile |
BMI |
< 5th |
|
(y) |
|
Mean±
SD |
WHO /
NCHS |
Indian affluent |
Mean ± SD |
of BMI(%) |
|
Mean ± SD |
WHO/NCHS |
Indian affluent |
Mean ± SD |
percentile |
| |
|
|
(%) |
(%) |
|
|
|
|
(%) |
(%) |
|
of BMI |
| 5 |
50 |
104.6 ± 8.5 |
16 (32.0) |
14 (28.0) |
13.0 ± 1.3 |
39 (78.0) |
31 |
101.7 ± 7.9 |
14 (45.1) |
11 (35.4) |
12.6 ± 1.3 |
20 (64.5) |
| 6 |
76 |
109.7 ± 7.9 |
21 (27.6) |
14 (18.4) |
12.9 ± 1.1 |
55 (72.3) |
55 |
107.7 ± 7.4 |
21 (38.1) |
18 (32.7) |
13.5 ± 1.8 |
28 (50.9) |
| 7 |
97 |
115.0 ± 6.8 |
32 (32.9) |
15 (15.4) |
13.1 ± 1.1 |
71 (73.1) |
73 |
113.7 ± 6.8 |
26 (35.6) |
12 (16.4) |
12.9 ± 1.0 |
46 (63.0) |
| 8 |
139 |
118.7 ± 7.4 |
65 (46.7) |
32 (23.0) |
13.2 ± 1.4 |
99 (71.2) |
90 |
116.5 ± 7.7 |
55 (61.1) |
25 (27.7) |
13.1 ± 1.2 |
59 (65.5) |
| 9 |
165 |
123.4 ± 8.1 |
71 (43.0) |
38 (23.0) |
13.2 ± 1.2 |
112 (67.8) |
110 |
123.0 ± 7.8 |
48 (43.6) |
21 (19.0) |
13.1 ± 1.5 |
74 (67.2) |
| 10 |
183 |
128.6 ± 8.1 |
73 (39.8) |
40 (21.8) |
13.5 ± 1.4 |
126 (68.8) |
123 |
127.9 ± 8.4 |
50 (40.6) |
31 (25.2) |
13.5 ± 1.3 |
82 (66.6) |
| 11 |
167 |
133.7 ± 8.2 |
71 (42.5) |
33 (19.7) |
14.0 ± 1.4 |
115 (68.8) |
93 |
133.9 ± 9.0 |
34 (36.5) |
24 (25.8) |
13.9 ± 1.6 |
48 (51.6) |
| 12 |
142 |
135.2 ± 7.9 |
76 (53.5) |
60 (42.2) |
14.4 ± 1.4 |
93 (65.4) |
72 |
135.7 ± 9.5 |
38 (52.7) |
32 (44.4) |
14.6 ± 1.7 |
43 (59.7) |
| 13 |
119 |
139.3 ± 7.7 |
71 (59.6) |
49 (41.1) |
15.0 ± 2.0 |
79 (66.3) |
54 |
141.4 ± 6.4 |
32 (59.2) |
21 (38.8) |
14.9 ± 1.6 |
30 (55.5) |
| 14 |
60 |
147.1 ± 8.4 |
30 (50.0) |
16 (26.6) |
15.0 ± 1.4 |
45 (75.0) |
27 |
143.0 ± 6.0 |
20 (74.0) |
11 (40.7) |
15.1 ± 1.3 |
17 (62.9) |
| 15 |
50 |
154.3 ± 10.0 |
22 (44.0) |
12 (24.0) |
15.8 ± 1.7 |
34 (68.0) |
27 |
146.7 ± 3.1 |
15 (55.5) |
02 (28.5) |
17.0 ± 1.3 |
02 (28.5) |
| 16 |
07 |
148.1 ± 9.5 |
05 (71.4) |
03 (42.8) |
14.6 ± 1.7 |
07 (100.0) |
07 |
146.5 ± 8.5 |
05 (71.4) |
02 (28.5) |
16.4 ± 2.1 |
03 (42.8) |
| Total |
1255 |
|
553(44.0) |
326 (25.9) |
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875 (69.7) |
762 |
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358(46.9) |
210(27.5) |
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452 (59.3) |
We conclude that the prevalence of malnutrition is high
among school children of Garasia tribe. Similar prevalence rate of
thinness and stunting was reported by Deshmukh, et al.(4)
and Venkaiah, et al.(5).The present state of malnutrition in
Garasia children may be attributed to their low socio-economic status,
poor dietary intake and lack of knowledge about nutrition.
Acknowledgment
Dr Partap Midha, Medical Superintendent and trustee of
J. Watumull Global Hospital and Research Centre, Mount Abu for providing
material support, guidance and encouragement.
References
1. World Health Organization Physical status. The Use
and Interpretation of Anthropometry. WHO technical report No. 854.Geneva:
WHO; 1995.
2. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. National
Center for Health Statistics [Internet]. Clinical growth charts. Available
from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/nhanes/growthcharts/clinical_charts.htm.
Accessed 10 October, 2008.
3. Agarwal DK, Agarwal KN, Upadhya SK, Mittal R,
Prakash R, Sai RS. Physical and sexual growth pattern of affluent Indian
children from 5 to 18 years of age. Indian Pediatr 1992; 29: 1203-1268.
4. Deshmukh PR, Gupta SS, Bharambe MS, Dongre AR,
Maliye C, Kaur S, et al. Nutritional status of adolescents in rural
Wardha. Indian J Pediatr 2006; 73: 139-141.
5. Venkaiah K, Damayanti K, Nayak MU, Vijayaraghavan K.
Diet and nutritional status of rural adolescents in India. Eur J Clin Nutr
2002; 56: 1119-1125. |
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