Abstract
Objectives
To investigate the prevalence of malnutrition using anthropometric measures in a cohort of tribal students attending a school in rural south India. Children attending the school were offered three meals a day during attendance. Analysis of anthropometric data obtained aimed to determine the nutritional effect of the food provided.
Methods
The nutritional status of 409 students were assessed by comparing anthropometric measurements to reference values according to WHO/NCHS guidelines. Height for age <3rd percentile was defined as stunting. BMI for age <5th percentile was defined as thinness. ‘New’ students were defined as attending the school for <1 y. ‘Old’ students were defined as being in attendance for ≥1 y. Comparison of thinness and stunting prevalence in these groups enabled evaluation of the meals provided by the organisation.
Results
Four hundred and nine students were included for analysis in the study. The prevalence of thinness was 39.4 %. 59.5 % of ‘new’ and 52.9 % of ‘old’ students at the school demonstrated thinness. 59.4 % of students were classified as stunted. 73.8 % of ‘new’ students and 52.9 % of ‘old’ students demonstrated stunting (p 0.091). Significantly (p 0.010) more ‘new’ female students had stunted growth.
Conclusions
Acute and chronic measures of malnutrition were high amongst adolescent students attending the school. Comparison of ‘new’ and ‘old’ adolescent pupils at the school hints that the ‘old’ students were less malnourished than their ‘new’ counterparts. This study demonstrates the importance for NGOs to develop their nutritional programmes with a special focus on adolescents.
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Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the support of the VGKK staff who assisted Dr Hannumappa Sudarshan with the implementation of data collection. The authors also acknowledge Dr Peter Stutchfield for advice on data analysis and presentation of the project. Data analysis was performed by Mr Richard Thomas and Mr Rohit Srinivasan. The authors convey their thanks to Cardiff Medical School for its financial support.
Conflict of Interest
None.
Role of Funding Source
Jack Matthews Award Scholarship, Cardiff School of Medicine.
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Thomas, R., Srinivasan, R. & Sudarshan, H. Nutritional Status of Tribal Children and Adolescents in Rural South India: The Effect of an NGO Delivered Nutritional Programme. Indian J Pediatr 80, 821–825 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-013-1098-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-013-1098-4