Nutritional Problems of Urban Rural and Tribal Elderly Persons Residing in Nanded District

Abstract

The present study was aimed to assess the nutritional status of selected newlineelderly population from urban, rural and tribal area of Nanded District of newlineMarathwada region in Maharashtra. A total samples of 600 elderly each 200 newlineurban, 200 rural and 200 tribal were selected for the study. The anthropometric newlinestatus of selected elderly was determined by recording height (cm.), weight (kg.), newlinehip circumference (cm.), waist circumference (cm.) and body mass index was newlinecalculated using values of height and weight. On the basis of BMI, selected newlinesubjects were categorised under different grades of undernutrition. Daily food newlineintake of each selected elderly was recorded with the help of two days dietary newlinerecall method and weighment method. Nutrient intake was calculated by using newlineNutritive value of Indian foods book (Gopalan C. 2010). Percent adequacy of newlinefood intake was calculated using balanced diet table for elderly and percent newlineadequacy of nutrient intake was done by using RDA Table. Ten percent elderly newlinefrom each urban (20) and rural (20) were screened for serum calcium phosphorus newlineand blood haemoglobin level. Two health checkup camps were organised in newlineurban and rural area with the help of professional doctors for the screening of newlinenutritional inadequacy. Information regarding health, bone and psychological newlineproblems were recorded by using predesigned questionnaire with checklist of newlineproblems. newlineResult revealed that, out of total 600 elderly subjects 279 (46.5%) were newlinemale and 321 (53.5%) were female. However, 75 percent elderly were belonging newlineto 60 to 70 years age group and vegetarian (62.5 %). Majority were having newlinemonthly income Rs. 10000/- (40.16 %) and were involved in farming occupation newline(55.66%). Almost all (91.16 %) elderly subjects were living with their family. newlineThe mean height of elderly was 155.96 ± 12.07 cm. with range of 122 to newline182 cm, mean weight was 52.67 ±11.31 kg. with range of 28 to 87 kg and mean newlinebody mass index was 21.22 ± 3.43 with range of 13.88 to 34.63. However, hip newlinewaist ratio ranged from 0.75 to 1.08 with mean 0.92