Abstract

The study on growth, development and nutritional status of school aged children in a community can provide good information about the health status of that community.

1.1. Objective: The present study was undertaken to assess the nutritional status of 5-9 years aged Munda children of Purulia district of West Bengal, India.

1.2. Methodology: Height and weight of 259 Munda children aged 5-9 years were measured from randomly selected schools. Socio-economic status was measured using updated Kuppu swami scale. Nutritional status was assessed from height-for-age and weight-for-age growth curves using WHO reference. Prevalence of under nutrition was determined by Z-scores of height-for-age and weight-for-age using the WHO reference data. Hemoglobin concentration and nutritional deficiency symptoms of each child were also examined.

1.3. Results: Growth curves of height-for-age and weight-for-age of Munda children remained around 5th percentile and between 1st and 3rd percentile values of WHO reference, respectively. The prevalence of stunting and underweight (Z-score