Abstract

Objectives: To study the nutritional status of pre-school tribal children, to compare with the non-tribal children and to identify its association with selected socio demographic variables.

Methods: A Descriptive Cross Sectional Study was conducted from December 2014 to June 2015, spanning 40 days in 20 randomly selected anganawadis in Mananthavady ICDS block in Wayanad district of Kerala state. 469 children participated in the study. Weight, height, mid arm circumference were measured using standardized instruments. Socio demographic data were collected using structured questionnaire. Children more than two standard deviations (SDs) below the standard median of the WHO MGRS were considered underweight, stunted, and wasted respectively. Percentages, means and associations were determined using PASW software.

Results: 469 children (228 tribal and 241 non-tribal) were analyzed. The prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was 62%, 41% and 43% respectively compared to 35%, 37% and 21% among non tribals. 88% of tribal children had significant pallor. Significant association was found between malnutrition and the tribal community, gender, past illnesses, timing of delivery, birth weight, time of initiation of complementary feeds, number of family members, educational status of mother and parental habits (smoking/ alcohol consumption).

Conclusion: Malnutrition in the form of stunting, wasting and underweight is extremely high among the tribal preschool children, especially girls when compared to boys. Micronutrient deficiencies are also rampant among these children. This degree of malnourishment is beyond any acceptable limits and hence further interventions and policies should be made based on the study to make health care services sensitive to the needs of the tribals.

Keywords: Underweight; Stunting; Wasting; Tribal; Pre-school; Wayanad; socio-demographic variables