The Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics

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

A Cohort Study on the Growth Dynamics of Rural School Children


Affiliations
1 Department of Foods and Nutrition, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara - 390 002, Gujarat, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


The prevalence of malnutrition is very high in children of rural India. It is necessary to keep a track of the data to tackle the problem. The aim of the study was to analyse the dynamics of growth and weight transitions in a cohort for rural school children from Vadodara. Using random sampling method 2282 children were selected from the school list of the industrial area of Vadodara, Gujarat. Weight and height were measured at three time point. The paired data of 465 children aged 5-16 years were analysed for the study. The interval between each survey was one year. The prevalence of underweight, stunting and thinness was 73.3, 11.8 and 67.3 % respectively in the first year according to CDC standards. The corresponding figures in the second year were 64.3, 10.7 and 62.7 % respectively. The prevalence was lower as regards to WHO 2007 classification as compared to CDC standards. The mean increase in weight per year for children ranged from 2.8-2.7 kg. The increase of height per year ranged from 6.1 to 5 cm. During the study period of two years, the underweight population contracted by 13 %. In the same period, the normal population has grown by 6 %. Multipronged approach should be adhered to tackle the situation. Growth monitoring and health tracking can go a long way in improving the nutritional status.

Keywords

Malnutrition, School Children, Longitudinal, Rural Area.
User
Notifications

  • Kotecha, P.V. Micronutrient malnutrition in India: Let us say “no” to it. Ind. J. Comm. Med., 2008, 33, 9-10.

  • Mercedes De Onis. Growth curves for school age children and adolescents. Ind. Pediat., 2009, 46, 463-472.

  • National Family Health Statistics (NFHS)–3, 2005-2006.

  • Directions in Development. Repositioning nutrition as central to development - A strategy for long scale action. World Bank, 2006.

  • Department of health and human services, Centre for Diseases Control and prevention, USA: CDC growth charts for the United States.

  • WHO. Growth reference data for 5-19years; 2007.http://www.who.int/growthref/en/

  • Epi Info, Version 6.04-d.2001. Center for Disease Control and prevention (CDC), Epidemiology program office, Atlanta, Georgia and World Health Organization, Global programme on AIDS, Geneva, Switzerland; developed by Dean A.G. Columbier, D. Brendel, K.A. Arner Smith, D.C. Burton, A.G. Dicker, R.C. Sullivan, K. Fagar, R.F. and Arner, T.G.

  • Brahmam, G.N.V. Evaluation of mid day meal program in states of Andra Pradesh, Karnataka, Orrisa, Tamil Nadu, Kerela and Gujarat. Paper presented at a workshop on mid day meal programs in schools in India conveyed by the Nutrition Foundation of India, New Delhi, 1st August, 2005.

  • Deheeger, M. and Rolland, M.F. Longitudinal study of anthropometric measurement in Parisian children aged 10 months to 18 years. Arch Pediat., 2004, 11, 1139-1144.

  • Meredith, H.V. Findings from Australia, Europe and north America on secular changes in mean height of children, youth and young adults. Am. J. Phy. Anthropol., 1976, 44, 315-325.

  • Marques Vidal, P., Madeleine, G., Romain, S., Gabriel, A. and Bovet, P. Secular trend in height and weight among children and adolescents of the Seychelles, 1956-2006. BMC Pub. health, 2008, 8, 166.

  • Cole, T.J. The secular trend in human physical growth: A biological view. Econ. Hum. Biol., 2003, 1, 161-168.

  • Raj, M., Karimassery, P., Mary, P., Abish, S. and Ramank. Dynamics of growth and weight transition in a pediatric cohort from India. Nutr. J., 2009, 8, 55.


Abstract Views: 450

PDF Views: 1




  • A Cohort Study on the Growth Dynamics of Rural School Children

Abstract Views: 450  |  PDF Views: 1

Authors

Rachana M. Bhoite
Department of Foods and Nutrition, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara - 390 002, Gujarat, India
Uma M. Iyer
Department of Foods and Nutrition, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara - 390 002, Gujarat, India

Abstract


The prevalence of malnutrition is very high in children of rural India. It is necessary to keep a track of the data to tackle the problem. The aim of the study was to analyse the dynamics of growth and weight transitions in a cohort for rural school children from Vadodara. Using random sampling method 2282 children were selected from the school list of the industrial area of Vadodara, Gujarat. Weight and height were measured at three time point. The paired data of 465 children aged 5-16 years were analysed for the study. The interval between each survey was one year. The prevalence of underweight, stunting and thinness was 73.3, 11.8 and 67.3 % respectively in the first year according to CDC standards. The corresponding figures in the second year were 64.3, 10.7 and 62.7 % respectively. The prevalence was lower as regards to WHO 2007 classification as compared to CDC standards. The mean increase in weight per year for children ranged from 2.8-2.7 kg. The increase of height per year ranged from 6.1 to 5 cm. During the study period of two years, the underweight population contracted by 13 %. In the same period, the normal population has grown by 6 %. Multipronged approach should be adhered to tackle the situation. Growth monitoring and health tracking can go a long way in improving the nutritional status.

Keywords


Malnutrition, School Children, Longitudinal, Rural Area.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.21048/ijnd.2016.53.2.4298