Anthropometric assessment of nutritional status of Muslim adolescents of Deganga, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India
Abstract
A cross-sectional study of 1068 Bengali Muslim boys (n=522) and girls (n=546) aged 10-17 years of Deganga, Barasat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India, was undertaken to study their age and sex differences in nutritional status. The subjects were classified into eight age groups: 10-10.9 years (n = 56, 62), 11-11.9 (n = 63, 73), 12-12.9 (n = 65, 82), 13- 13.9 (n = 77, 79), 14-14.9 (n = 84, 78), 15-15.9 (n = 71, 70), 16-16.9 (n = 60, 55), 17-17.9 (46, 47). Individuals falling below the age and sex specific fifth percentile of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) were defined as undernourished. The overall rate of undernutrition was 41.67%. The rates of undernutrition of boys varied between 23.33% among 16 years old to 72.73% at age 13 years. The rates of undernutrition of girls varied between 11.43% among 15 years old to 58.90% at age 11 years. The prevalence of undernutrition (combining all ages) varied between boys (52.49%) and girls (31.32%). In general, this study provided evidence that the Bengalee Muslim adolescents had moderate rates of undernutrition. These rates were, in general, lower than those reported in other developing countries including previous Indian studies.
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