Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK, CF14 4XN,
Indian J Pediatr. 2013 Oct;80(10):821-5. doi: 10.1007/s12098-013-1098-4. Epub 2013 Jun 26.
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.
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.
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.
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.
通过人体测量学指标调查一个在印度南部农村上学的部落学生群体的营养不良流行情况。学校为在校学生提供一日三餐。分析获得的人体测量学数据旨在确定所提供食物的营养效果。
根据世界卫生组织/联合国儿童基金会（WHO/NCHS）指南，将 409 名学生的人体测量数据与参考值进行比较，以评估他们的营养状况。身高年龄 <第 3 百分位数被定义为发育迟缓。年龄别 BMI <第 5 百分位数被定义为消瘦。“新”学生被定义为入学时间 <1 年。“老”学生被定义为在校时间≥1 年。比较两组学生消瘦和发育迟缓的患病率，评估该组织提供的膳食。
本研究共纳入 409 名学生进行分析。消瘦的患病率为 39.4%。学校里 59.5%的“新”学生和 52.9%的“老”学生消瘦。59.4%的学生发育迟缓。73.8%的“新”学生和 52.9%的“老”学生发育迟缓（p=0.091）。更多的“新”女学生发育迟缓（p=0.010）。
在学校上学的青少年中，急性和慢性营养不良的发生率很高。比较学校里的“新”和“老”青少年学生，“老”学生比他们的“新”同学营养不良的程度较低。本研究表明，非政府组织需要特别关注青少年，制定专门的营养计划。
