Asian Journal of Home Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Assessment of Micronutrient Deficiencies Among Tribal Primary School Children of Meghalaya, India


Affiliations
1 Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Home Science, Central Agricultural University, Tura (Meghalaya), India
2 Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Home Science, Central Agricultural University, Tura (Meghalaya), India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


The study was conducted to assess the micronutrient deficiencies among the tribal primary school children aged 8-11 years of the Meghalaya tribes. It was a Cross-sectional study. The duration of study was from 2012 to 2013. Total sample size was 1399 children. All primary children selected for the study were interviewed through school teachers or parents. Clinical examination and Hemoglobin estimation was done using Portable Haemoglobinometer (Hb Haemoglobin testing system, USA). Maximum nutritional deficiency reported by clinical examination in both tribes of primary school children was vitamin C deficiency with the symptoms of spongy and bleeding gums followed by iron deficiency anaemia. However, mean prevalence rate of anaemia in both the tribes of Meghalaya children is not significant with the mean (SD) value of 9.92 (1.71) irrespective of the gender and age with respect to blood haemoglobin concentration. There was also a significant critical difference in the distribution of different grades of anaemia i.e. moderate (0.031) and severe (0.127) among the age group of 8-11 years. And the highest prevalence of anemia was reported in the boys (84.65%) than girls (83.98%). Clinical examination should be screened periodically and appropriate measures should be taken in order to prevent from other prevailing nutritional related diseases. Further, the high prevalence of mild and moderate anemia demands due emphasis so as to bring down the total prevalence of anemia in primary school children.

Keywords

Anemia, Clinical, Hemoglobin, Iron, Meghalaya, West Garo, East Khasi.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Awate, R.V., Ketkar, Y.A. and Somaiya, P.A. (1997). Prevalence of nutritional deficiency disorder among primary school children aged 5-15 years. J. Indian Medical Assoc., 95 : 410415.

  • Bhavesh, M., Prakash, P., Shailesh, S. and Paresh, D. (2010). Knowledge attitude and practice regarding micronutrient in Secondary school student of tribal area in Gujarat. Nat. J. Community Med., 1(2):100-102.

  • Bhise, R.M., Wadekar, K.B. and Tarpe, V.C. (2013). Prevalence of anemia in the children of tribal ashram schools in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. Internat. J. Dev. Sustain., 2 : 298-305.

  • Bhutta, Z.A., Hurrell, R.F. and Rosenberg, I.H. (2012). Meeting micronutrient requirements for health and development. Nestle Nutr. Inst. Workshop Ser., Nestec Ltd., Basel., 70 :1-10.

  • Goyal, R.C. and Chavan, V.A. (1993). Health status of School Children in Ahamednagar city. Indian J. Maternal & Child Health, 4: 81-83.

  • Grantham-McGregor, S. and Ani, C. (2001). A review of studies on the effect of iron deficiency on cognitive development in children. J. Nutr., 131: 649S-68S.

  • Jai Prabhakar, S.C. and Gangadhar, M.R. (2009).Prevalence of anemia in Jenukuruba Primitive Tribal Children of Mysore district, Karnataka. Anthropologist,11:49-51.

  • Jain, N. and Jain, V.M. (2012).Prevalence of anemia in school children.Med. Prac. Rev., 3:1-4.

  • Jellife, D.B. (1966).The assessment of the nutritional status of the community. WHO, Monograph Series. 1966.

  • Khan, T.N., Zanvar, V.S., Nerlekar, J.P. and Devi, R. (2010). Assessment of nutritional status of selected families in adopted villages of Parbhani district. Asian J. Home Sci., 4: 287-290.

  • National Micronutrient Survey (2007). Republic of Maldives, Project Report.

  • Rynjah, A., Anuradha, V. and Thilagamani, S. (2009). Nutritional status of tobacco users among the Khasi tribes in Meghalaya. Indian J. Nutr. Dietet., 46 : 357-363.

  • Sanku, D.E.Y., Sankar, G. and Madhuchhanda, G. (2010). Prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age in Meghalaya: a logistic regression analysis. Turk. J. Med. Sci., 40 : 783-789.

  • Sarvar, R. and Bant, D.D. (2017). Clinical assessment of micronutrient deficiencies among children (1- 5 years) enrolled in anganwadis of old Hubli slums, Karnataka, India. Internat. J. Community Med. Public Health, 4 : 598-602.

  • Sesikeran (2013).The Changing Scenario of Micronutrient Deficiencies in India. Bull. Nutri. Foundation India, 34(2).

  • Sonkar, S. and Pandey, A. (2011).Nutritional assessment and life style of primary school children in Ramabai Nagar. Asian J. Home Sci., 6: 265-268.

  • WHO (2001).Iron deficiency anaemia assessment, prevention and control a guide for programme managers 2001. Annual Report.

  • UNICEF/United Nation University/WHO (2001). Iron Deficiency Anemia, Assessment Prevention and Control. A Guide for program manager, Documents WHO/NHD/01.3 Geneva – WHO, available at http://www.who.int./nut/documents/ida.


Abstract Views: 403

PDF Views: 1




  • Assessment of Micronutrient Deficiencies Among Tribal Primary School Children of Meghalaya, India

Abstract Views: 403  |  PDF Views: 1

Authors

Namita Singh
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Home Science, Central Agricultural University, Tura (Meghalaya), India
Shipra Nagar
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Home Science, Central Agricultural University, Tura (Meghalaya), India
Ranjita Devi Takhellambam
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Home Science, Central Agricultural University, Tura (Meghalaya), India

Abstract


The study was conducted to assess the micronutrient deficiencies among the tribal primary school children aged 8-11 years of the Meghalaya tribes. It was a Cross-sectional study. The duration of study was from 2012 to 2013. Total sample size was 1399 children. All primary children selected for the study were interviewed through school teachers or parents. Clinical examination and Hemoglobin estimation was done using Portable Haemoglobinometer (Hb Haemoglobin testing system, USA). Maximum nutritional deficiency reported by clinical examination in both tribes of primary school children was vitamin C deficiency with the symptoms of spongy and bleeding gums followed by iron deficiency anaemia. However, mean prevalence rate of anaemia in both the tribes of Meghalaya children is not significant with the mean (SD) value of 9.92 (1.71) irrespective of the gender and age with respect to blood haemoglobin concentration. There was also a significant critical difference in the distribution of different grades of anaemia i.e. moderate (0.031) and severe (0.127) among the age group of 8-11 years. And the highest prevalence of anemia was reported in the boys (84.65%) than girls (83.98%). Clinical examination should be screened periodically and appropriate measures should be taken in order to prevent from other prevailing nutritional related diseases. Further, the high prevalence of mild and moderate anemia demands due emphasis so as to bring down the total prevalence of anemia in primary school children.

Keywords


Anemia, Clinical, Hemoglobin, Iron, Meghalaya, West Garo, East Khasi.

References