Rao V G, Yadav Rajeev, Dolla C K, Kumar Surendra, Bhondeley M K, Ukey Mahendra
Regional Medical Research Centre for Tribals (ICMR), Jabalpur, India.
Indian J Med Res. 2005 Jul;122(1):43-7.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Undernutrition and various morbidities go hand in hand, particularly in children. Nutritional status is a sensitive indicator of community health and nutrition. The present study is an attempt to assess the nutritional status of pre-school children of Gond tribal community in Madhya Pradesh.
The study was a community-based, cross- sectional survey carried out in tribal preschool children. Anthropometric measurements were taken. Various indices of nutritional status were expressed in standard deviation units (z scores) from the reference median. The children were examined for nutritional deficiencies and other morbidities. The haemoglobin concentration was measured and the children were classified into various grades of nutritional anaemias. Data on socio-cultural and hygienic practices were also collected.
More than 60 per cent children were underweight. Micronutrient deficiency disorders such as anaemia and vitamin A deficiency were common among them. Unhygienic personal habits and adverse cultural practices relating to child rearing, breast-feeding and weaning were also prevalent among them.
INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study revealed the widespread prevalence of undernutrition among pre-school tribal children and highlight a need for an integrated approach towards improving the child health as well as nutritional status in this area.
营养不良与多种疾病密切相关，尤其是在儿童中。营养状况是社区健康和营养的一个敏感指标。本研究旨在评估中央邦贡德部落社区学龄前儿童的营养状况。
该研究是一项针对部落学龄前儿童的社区横断面调查。进行了人体测量。营养状况的各种指标以相对于参考中位数的标准差单位（z分数）表示。对儿童进行了营养缺乏和其他疾病的检查。测量了血红蛋白浓度，并将儿童分为不同等级的营养性贫血。还收集了关于社会文化和卫生习惯的数据。
超过60%的儿童体重不足。贫血和维生素A缺乏等微量营养素缺乏症在他们当中很常见。不卫生的个人习惯以及与育儿、母乳喂养和断奶相关的不良文化习俗在他们当中也很普遍。
本研究结果揭示了学龄前部落儿童中营养不良的广泛流行，并强调需要采取综合方法来改善该地区儿童的健康和营养状况。
