Background: Undernutrition among adult tribal women is a major health problem in India. Objectives: To compare the utility of two different anthropometric indicators of chronic energy deficiency (CED) among tribal Kora Mudi women and to determine which of these two is a better indicator of undernutrition. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 123 individuals was conducted. The body mass index (BMI) and mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) were used to evaluate CED. Results: The prevalence of CED based on BMI less than 18.5 was 55.3%, and the prevalence of CED based on MUAC less than 22.0 cm was 51.2%. Both of these prevalence rates are classified in the very high-prevalence category (≥ 40%) and indicate a critical situation according to World Health Organization recommendations. Mean BMI increased significantly with higher quartile of MUAC. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of CED between the MUAC quartiles. The risk ratio for CED for women in the lowest quartile of MUAC was 9.33 compared with those in the highest quartile. There was a significant positive association between MUAC and BMI. Regression analysis demonstrated that MUAC had a significant positive impact on BMI; the percentage of the variation in BMI explained by MUAC was 52%. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that overall, 82.11% of cases of CED were correctly classified with the use of MUAC. The use of MUAC correctly diagnosed 82.35% of cases of CED and 81.82% of women with normal nutritional status. Conclusions: This population was facing severe nutritional stress. With limited resources and in the absence of skilled manpower, it may be more appropriate to use MUAC for human population surveys, particularly among tribal populations of developing countries.

Maternal Height as an Independent Risk Factor for Neonatal Size among Adolescent Bengalees in Kolkata, India

This cross-sectional study was undertaken to investigate the relationship of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) with body mass index (BMI) and the self reported morbidity status. This was to assess the reliability of MUAC as a measure of nutritional and overall physical health status among the adult (> 18 years) Bengalee male slum dwellers of Kolkata, (India). Data on height, weight, MUAC and self reported morbidity were analysed for 474 individuals. The BMI was computed following the standard formula. Classification of chronic energy deficiency (CED) was done following the WHO guidelines. The mean (sd) age, height, weight, BMI and MUAC were 37.5 (14.2), 161.5 (6.2), 53.0 (9.5), 20.3 (kg/m²) and 25.0 cm, respectively. The mean BMI decreased significantly (F = 243.0; p < 0.001) from the highest MUAC group (22.5 kg/m²) to the lowest one (17.1 kg/m²). Overall prevalence of CED (BMI < 18.5 kg/m²) was 32.3%. The prevalence of CED also increased sharply from the highest MUAC group (3.0%) to the lowest group (84.2%) (X ² = 237.8; p < 0.001). The odds ratios (OR) for being CED is very much high in the lowest MUAC group (OR = 178.70, CI = 71.37–447.46). A significant (X² = 19.168, p < 0.001) increase in the prevalence of self reported illness from the highest MUAC group (19%) to the lowest one (40.4%, OR = 2.78; CI =1.68–4.62) was also observed. The mean MUAC was observed to decrease significantly (F = 7.157, p < 0.001) from non-ill group (G IV) to the group which reported to have both previous and recent illness (G I). The prevalence of undernourished (MUAC < 23.0 cm) also increased significantly (X ² = 21.54, p < 0.001) from G IV to thee G I. In conclusion, the MUAC can be used as an efficient alternative measurement in the evaluation of CED status among adult Bengalee males.

Background: The tribes of India comprise approximately 8% of the total population of the country, which probably has the largest number of tribal communities in the world. In general, the tribal populations are among the most underprivileged and undernourished people in India. Objectives: To determine the anthropometric characteristics and prevalence of undernutrition, based on body mass index (BMI), of adult Dhimals, a tribal population of Naxalbari, West Bengal, India, and to compare these results with those from four other tribes of Eastern India: the Bathudis, Kora Mudis, Santals, and Savars. Methods: A total of 305 adult (18 years or older) Dhimals (159 men and 146 women) from three villages (Maniram, Hatighisa, and Buraganj) in the Mallabari area of Naxalbari were studied. These villages are located 5 km from Siliguri town, which is approximately 580 km from Kolkata, the provincial capital of West Bengal. Anthropometric measurements included height and weight. BMI was calculated by the standard equation. Undernutrition was evaluated according to World Health Organization (WHO) cutoff points. Results: The overall prevalence of undernutrition (BMI < 18.5) was very high (36.4%). The prevalence was significantly higher in women than in men (46.4% vs. 27.0%; χ² = 12.54; p < .001; odds ratio, 2.35). According to the WHO criterion, the prevalence of undernutrition was high and the situation was serious in men. Among women, the prevalence of undernutrition was very high and the situation was critical. However, in general, compared with other tribal people of eastern India except the Santals, adult Dhimals had better anthropometric and nutritional profiles. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that although the anthropometric and nutritional profiles of adult Dhimals are better than those of some of the other tribal populations of eastern India, immediate appropriate nutritional intervention programs are needed for implementation among this ethnic group.