A Comparative Study on the Epidemiology of Under Nutrition based on Anthropometric and Clinical Parameters among the Tribal Under Five Children in Hills and Plains of Thiruvannamalai District Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Children s health is Tomorrow s wealth. Children are about one third of the population and are the future pillars of the nation. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of under-nutrition and identify the determinants among the tribal children under the age of five years residing in Javvadu Hills and Plains of Thiruvannamalai District in Tamil Nadu and thereby compare to identify the factors determining the difference in under-nutrition between these two groups although they are of same tribal origin and ethnic race. This is a Community based Observational study using a Mixed methods approach with quantitative and qualitative components. A Cross-sectional survey method was used for the quantitative component to interview the mothers with a questionnaire to gather information on demographic profile, antenatal services, details of delivery, maternal health, infant and child feeding practices, child health, utilization of health services, details of illness health seeking behavior, maternal health and food security in the family. Anthropometric and clinical assessment of nutritional status of the under-five children were done using a case study format. Focus Group Discussions and In-depth interviews were conducted for the qualitative component to obtain the information on socio-cultural beliefs governing infant and child feeding as well as child rearing practices and health seeking behavior. There were 450 tribal children and their mothers in each group who had participated in this study. 1. The prevalence of Under-nutrition among the Group 1 was 44%, CI = (39.5 - 48.6) and that in the Group 2 was observed to be 33.3%, CI = (29.1 - 37.8). 2. The prevalence of under-nutrition is higher by 10.7% among the hilly group in comparison with the group 2 in the plains with statistical significance (p=0.001). 3. Hence, the overall nutritional status of tribal children is better in the plains than their counterparts in hills although Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) is almost similar in both the groups. newline