Publication: Growth Pattern and Prevalence of Underweight and Stunting Among Rural Adolescents
Date
2011
Article Type
Original Article
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
ISSN 1990-7974 eISSN 1990-7982
Volume Title
Pages
Pages: 17 - 24
Publisher
Nepal Paediatric Society (JNPS)
Abstract
Abstract:
Introduction: 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.
Description
S Bisai
Ph D. Post Doctoral Fellow, Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, Midnapore
K Bose
Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, Midnapore
D Ghosh
Professor, Department of Bio-Medical Laboratory Science and Management, Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, Midnapore
K De
Research Fellow; Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, Midnapore
Keywords
Adolescent, Rural, Nutritional Status, Underweight, Stunting
Identifier
https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v31i1.3640