Nutritional Status among Dhurwa Children of Bastar ( C.G.)
Anand Murti Mishra*
Faculty,
SOS in Anthropology and Tribal Studies, Bastar
University, Jagdalpur (C.G.)
ABSTRACT:
Food
is a pre requisite of nutrition . Nutrition is seen as
the end point of a
series of multidimensional complex biological ecological , social, cultural,
economic, demographic and political factors. Assessment of nutritional status
of human communities therefore warrants application of multidisciplinary
perspective, models and methodologies. The object of the paper is to study the
nutritional status which including two nutritional methods i.e. dietary habbits and weight deficit for age. The data were collected
among Dhurwa children (3 to 11 year) from different
school of five villages of Bastar District of (C.G.) . The sample consisted 216 Dhurwa children (Boys-108, Girls-108) selected using random
sampling design and was followed up cross section method.
It is observed that the
status of died is low from nutrition point of view among Dhurwa
children. The diet of the Dhurwa found is deficient
in most of the nutrients. The nutrients deficiencies not only give rise to
particular deficiency in health hazards but also lower the body resistance of
the people. The study represents on the basis of weight deficit for age that Dhurwa boys (28.78%) were found to be normal while 34
(31.48%) comes under Grade I and 28 (25.92%) under Grade II malnutrition only
15 ( 13.88%) Showed Grade III malnutrition where as among Dhurwa
girls 28.17% normal , 29.62% Grade I , 23.14% Grade II
and 18.50 % Grade III respectively . Finally conclusion of the present study
that the high prevalence of Dhurwa children under
nutrition so there is a dire need for putting people first perspective to
practice at every stage of our nutritional planning and implementation .
KEY WORDS: Nutritional Status Dhurwa
Children Bastar (C.G.)
INTRODUCTION:
Nutrition is an integral
part of the health as well being of all individuals. Good nutrition is
determined by the consumption of an adequate diet, as also a person's ability
to resist disease and infections that interfuse with the digestive and
absorption process of the biological system where on hand good nutrition
enables us to head a socially and economically active life ,
maturation has an adverse impact on morbidity. It hinders physical growth and
leads to functional impairment disability and diminishes productivity and
reduces resistance to disease.
Nutrition, is commonly
defined as 'food nourishment' that which nourishes'. According to Tanner
(1969), nutrition is "the combination of processes by which the living
organisms receives and utilizes the materials (food) necessary for the
maintenance of its functions and for the growth and renewal of its
components." some time the term nutrition is used to refer to 'Nutritional
status' of bodily condition, of and individual.
The condition of the
body resulting from the utilization of the essential nutrients available to the
body is termed the nutritional status. It may be good, fair or poor, depending
of the intake of dietary essentials, on the relative need for them, body's
ability to utilize them. good nutritional status is
noted when man benefits from the intake of well balanced diet. Optimum
nutrition means that the essential nutrients namely- carbohydrates, proteins,
fats, minerals, vitamins and water, are supplied and utilized to maintain
health and well being at the highest possible level it provides for a reserve.
Nutritional inadequacy results when even adequate amount of essential nutrients
are not provided for tissues, which require them for normal functioning.
Waterlow (1972) has classified children into 4 broad
categories, which are qualitatively different (a) normal (b) malnourished but
not retarded that is acute malnutrition.(c) malnourished and retarded- that
is acute on
chronic malnutrition and (d) retarded but not malnourished- the so called
nutritional dwarfs come into this category, and also many children who have
recovered from malnutrition. The objective of the paper is to study the
nutritional status which including two nutrition method i.e.-
Dietary habits and Weight deficit for age among Dhurwa
children of Bastar.
Land and People
On the 1st November 2000
new state of Chhattisgarh was format. Bastar district
is one of the big district of C.G. Bastar is tribal
populated region of Chhattisgarh. It is large district of 13725 square miles
lying between 17'460 and 20'140 north and 80'500 and 82'100 east.
The Dhurwa live in the central- eastern part of the Bastar district. The area, which lies in
between south of Jagdalpur and Sukma
Block; a Boudary between Chhattisgarh and Orissa.
The area covered by long stretches of dense forest.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
The
data were collection among Dhurwa children (3to 11
year) from different school of five villages of jadalpur
district of Bastar. (C.G.). The
sample consisted 216 Dhurwa
children (Boys-108, Girls-108) selected using random sampling design and was
followed up cross sectional method.
For the present study, proper care was taken so
that only those students were included who could provide definite information
about their correct age. Age was also ascertained in completed years of each
subject through school admission record. Wherever, in doubt, verification was
also carried cut by contacting the parents and teachers, and also if necessary,
consulting documents like birth certificate etc. The decimal age were
calculated from the date of birth to the date of examination using,
"Decimal age Calendar' by Tanner et al, (1966). The sample children have
been grouped into nine age groups; The Grouping is done with one-year interval.
In
the present work, the nutritional status among Dhurwa
children has been assessed by the following two methods have been employed i.e.
(1) DIETARY
HABITS
The study of
dietary habits of Dhurwa a cross sectional study was
conducted on 50 families including 250 individuals.
The general
food habits and dietary intake of the children was assessed by using the 24
hour recall method suggested by Wiener and Lourie
(1969), with slight modifications. Each subject was asked to recall the
frequency and amount of different foodstuffs consumed by him in the course of
the previous day, which was recorded in a standard Performa specially designed
for the purpose.
The analysis
of the collected information has been done on the basis of the techniques and
information published by the National Institute of Nutrition
, Hyderabad.
(2)WEIGHT
DEFICIT FOR AGE
The low plane of nutrition
in developing country like India affects a substantial section of the
population and, in particular, the Growing children. They suffer from Growth
retardation and sub-standard body Weights. In the present study Weight deficit
for age among Dhruwa children has been calculated in
relation to the NCHS (1977) reference standard. Following the classification
given by Gomez et al (1956), children were divided into 3 levels of
malnutrition besides normal
|
Grade (type of malnutrition) |
Normal |
I (Mild) |
II (Moderate) |
III (Severs) |
|
Weight for age of percentage |
Above 90%of the standard |
75%-90% of the standard |
60%-75%of the standard |
Below60%of the standard |
RESULT AND
DISCUSSION:
Dietary Habits- Food habits vary
from region to region and from one cultural group to another. Each group sets
up a complex pattern of standardized behavior, food habits and customs. These
are meaningful to the group are carefully maintained and not easily changed.
There food habits which do not have a deep cultural meaning may be changed
rather easily. In the present study it was observed that the intake of non –
vegetarian food items and fruits was low vegetables were consumed according to
local availability.
Table
1: Incidence of Different Grades of Malnutrition Among
Dhurwa Children of Bastar
(C.G.)
|
S.NO. |
Age in Year |
NO. |
BOYS |
GIRLS |
|||||||||||||||
|
NORMAL |
GRADE I |
GRADE II |
GRADE III |
NORMAL |
GRADE I |
GRADE II |
GRADE III |
||||||||||||
|
NO. |
% |
NO. |
% |
NO. |
% |
NO. |
% |
NO. |
% |
NO. |
% |
NO. |
% |
NO. |
% |
||||
|
1 |
3 |
12 |
2 |
16.66 |
3 |
25.00 |
3 |
25.00 |
4 |
33.33 |
1 |
8.33 |
4 |
33.33 |
2 |
16.66 |
5 |
41.66 |
|
|
2 |
4 |
12 |
1 |
8.33 |
2 |
8.33 |
4 |
33.33 |
5 |
41.66 |
2 |
16.66 |
3 |
25.00 |
3 |
25.00 |
4 |
33.33 |
|
|
3 |
5 |
12 |
3 |
25.00 |
3 |
25.00 |
4 |
33.33 |
2 |
16.66 |
2 |
16.66 |
2 |
16.66 |
4 |
33.33 |
4 |
33.33 |
|
4 |
6 |
12 |
5 |
41.66 |
4 |
33.33 |
2 |
16.66 |
1 |
8.33 |
4 |
33.33 |
2 |
16.66 |
3 |
25.00 |
3 |
25.00 |
|
5 |
7 |
12 |
4 |
33.33 |
3 |
25.00 |
3 |
25.00 |
2 |
16.66 |
5 |
41.66 |
3 |
25.00 |
3 |
25.00 |
1 |
8.33 |
|
6 |
8 |
12 |
4 |
33.33 |
4 |
33.33 |
4 |
33.33 |
- |
- |
5 |
41.66 |
4 |
33.33 |
3 |
25.00 |
- |
- |
|
7 |
9 |
12 |
3 |
25.00 |
5 |
41.66 |
3 |
25.00 |
1 |
8.33 |
5 |
41.66 |
5 |
41.66 |
2 |
16.66 |
- |
- |
|
8 |
10 |
12 |
4 |
33.33 |
5 |
41.66 |
3 |
25.00 |
- |
- |
4 |
33.33 |
5 |
41.66 |
2 |
16.66 |
1 |
8.33 |
|
9 |
11 |
12 |
5 |
41.66 |
5 |
41.66 |
2 |
16.66 |
- |
- |
3 |
25.00 |
4 |
33.33 |
3 |
25.00 |
2 |
16.66 |
|
TOTAL |
108 |
31 |
28.70 |
34 |
31.48 |
28 |
25.92 |
15 |
13.88 |
31 |
28.70 |
32 |
29.62 |
25 |
23.14 |
20 |
18.50 |
|
Weight deficit for age- An expert
recommended the use of height for age and weight for height as primary
indicators of nutritional status in children. However, the most frequently used
method for the assessment of the nutritional status of children has been the
weight deficit for age (Gomez, et.al, 1956).
Table 1
represents that on the basis of weight deficit for age, the sample of 216
children (boys .108,girls.108)in the present study have been classified into 3
grades of malnutrition besides normal, following Gomez et.al, (1955) and using
the NCHS (1955)reference standards.
Table show
that Dhurwa boys 31 (28.78%)were
found to be normal while 34(31.48%)comes under Grade I and 28 (25.92%) under
Grade II malnutrition only 15(13.88%) showed Grade III malnutrition whereas
among Dhurwa girls 28.17% (normal) 29.62% (Grade I),
23.14%(Grade II) and 18.50%(Grade III) respectively.
Conclusion
In
the poorer sections of our rural as well as tribal population, the nutritional
status presents a much more grim situation due to various reasons including
poverty, ignorance and suppurations, a geographical and socio-political
isolation. Long ago Mead (1977) an eminent anthropologist had emphasized the
need for a holistic approach to the formulation and implementation or
nutritional assistance programme and had stressed
that an understanding of the nutritional pattern of any people requires a
careful analysis of their socio-cultural, biological and inorganic
environments. Nutrition and health are no longer the domain and concern of
clinicians alone. It is very much the concern of anthropologists as well as
behavioral scientists and people and societies themselves.
Since
majority of the Dhurwa population is illiterate, poor
and has high morality and fertility there is a need to launch health and
nutritional education programme.
REFERENCE:
·
Gomez, F. et.al, (1956) :Mortality in Second and Third degree Malnutrition. Jour.
Trop. Pediatr.
·
ICMR (1974): Studies on School children. ICMR Tech. Rep Se No. 26, New
Delhi
·
Mead, M. ( 1977): Contemporarily implications
of the state of the art In Greene L.
editor malnutrition , behaviour and Social organization , New york . Academic Press.
·
Russel, R.V. and Hiralal (1975):
Tribes and casts of Central Provinces of India , Rajdhani book Center Delhi.
·
Tanner,
J.M (1969) : Relation of body size, intelligence ,
test scores, and social circumstances. In Trends and Issue in Development
Psychology ed. New York.
·
Tanner, J.M (1965): Radiographic studies of body composition in children
and adult. In Human body composition. ed. Jour. Brozek Oxford Pergamon press.
·
Tribal Research Center (2007): Chhattisgarh ka Janjatiya
Paridhsy ,
Proceeding Workshop Organized by TRI,
Raipur.
·
Waterlow, J.C.
(1972): Classification and definition of protein caloric malnutrition. Brit.
Med. Jour.
Received on 24.09.2012
Modified on 05.10.2012
Accepted
on 27.10.2012
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Research J. Science and Tech. 4(5): September –October, 2012: 185-187