Sex variations in anthropometric variables of Santal children of Birbhum district, West Bengal, India

Maitrayee Mitra; Ashish Mukhopadhyay; Mithu Bhadra

Authors

Maitrayee Mitra Cultural Research Institute, BCW Department, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Ashish Mukhopadhyay Department of Anthropology, A.P. C. College, New Barrackpore, West Bengal, India
Mithu Bhadra Department of Anthropology, Dinabandhu Mahavidyalaya, Bongaon, West Bengal, India

Keywords:

Anthropometry, Birbhum, children, Santal, tribal, West Bengal

Abstract

A cross sectional study was undertaken to assess the anthropometric characteristics among 400 pre-primary and primary school going Santal children aged 4 to 11 years which includes 217 boys and 183 girls of Bolpur Sriniketan Block, Birbhum, West Bengal. Anthropometric measurements of age, sex, height, weight, head circumference, chest circumference, waist circumference, hip circumference, Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC), bicep skinfold and tricep skinfold were recorded using standard procedure. In general the present study reveals that the mean value of Height and Weight of the boys are greater than that of the girls but in case of BMI the mean value of girls are greater than that of the boys. The mean value of Head Circumference, Chest Circumference and Waist Circumference of the boys are greater than that of the girls but in case of Hip Circumference and Mid-Upper-Arm Circumference the mean value of girls is greater than that of the boys. The mean value of both the Biceps and Triceps skinfolds of boys are slightly greater than that of the girls. In conclusion, it could be demonstrated that the sex variations in the anthropometric characteristics among the studied Santal children are insignificant and caused due to the differential trends of physical growth and development pattern in several anthropometric dimensions.

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