A Study on Assessment of Health Status of School Children of Eastern Bhubaneswar

Introduction: One fifth of the population in every country constitutes school children (5-15 yrs). Their nutritional & health status is a sensitive indicator of Community health&nutrition. Under nutrition and morbidities among them is one of the greatest public health problems in developing countries.

Objective: To assess the health status of school children of eastern BBSR.

Methods: The Study was conducted from August 2009 to June 2010 after getting permission from the school authority. All students present in school during the study period were examined by a team of members consisting of medical students, junior resident & faculties of department of Community Medicine. General examination of each child was carried out in good natural daylight. Weight (in kg, to the nearest 100 gm) and height (to the nearest 0.5 cm) were recorded.

Results: Total 1128 students of 3-16 years age were examined. Comparison of mean heights and weights of the children with the median height for age and weight for age as per NCHS standards indicated that in most of the age groups and both sex groups it was less. The prevalence of wasting and stunting in these children was high (Wasting in 22.4% of boys & 23.45 % of girls, stunting in 18.08% of boys & 18.7 % of girls). On general examination the common morbidities detected were dental caries (29.25 %), anaemia (19.5%), refractive error (8.77%),worm infestation (14.53%), URI (9.21%), skin diseases (7.62%) and vitamin A deficiency (7.6%).

Conclusion: The health and nutritional standard of school children were found to be low, more so in girls than in boys. The extent of malnutrition in this group was high, with the children in nearly all ages, both boys and girls, being deficient in both weight and height as compared to the NCHS Std.