Adult tribal malnutrition in India: an anthropometric and socio-demographic review Authors Subal Das Department of Anthropology and Tribal Development, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India Kaushik Bose Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal, India, 721102 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/anre-2015-0004 Keywords: Tribes, Indian, nutritional status, malnutrition Abstract The nutritional status and socio-demographic profile of tribal people is an important issue in India due to their marginalization from main stream population with respect to varied facilities. However, data on their nutritional status and socio-demographic profile are limited. This review aims to give an overview of the prevalence of chronic energy deficiency (CED) using Body mass index (BMI) and various demographic profile of Indian tribes based on studies published hitherto. In total 76 studies were reviewed for mean BMI based on the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of the public health problem of low BMI, based on adult populations worldwide. The overall sex specific prevalence of CED showed that both the tribal females (52.0%) and males (49.3%) were passing through the critical situation with respect to nutritional status with females being more underprivileged. In conclusion, although there is a gradual increase in knowledge about the nutritional and socio-demographic status of tribes since last decades; there is still paucity of data and information on more than approximately 600 tribes regarding their bio-social profile. However previous studies clearly indicate the need to enhance the health and nutrition status of the tribes by providing job opportunity and food security. Since the prevalence of CED was higher (critical to serious situation) in tribal populations, concerted efforts should also be made to improve the health status and nutrition uptake among them. Downloads Download data is not yet available. References Abrar A, Bimal R, Harashawaradhana, Venugopal P, Jokhan NS. 2014. A Study of the Basic and Derived Anthropometric Indices among the Healthy Adults of Raji Tribe of Uttarakhand, India. Afr Asian J Anthropol Soc Policy 5(1): 66–72. View in Google Scholar Adak DK, Gautam RK, Bharti S, Gharmi AK. 2006. Body mass index and chronic energy deficiency of adult males of central Indian Populations. Hum Biol 78: 201–218. View in Google Scholar Antony GM, Visweswara RK, Balakrishna N. 2001. Human Development Index: It’s Suitability for the Assessment of Health and Nutritional Status of Indian States. E P W 36: 2976–2979. View in Google Scholar Arlappa N, Balakrishna N, Brahmam GN, Vijayaraghavan K. 2005. 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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.

Malnutrition has become one of the serious problems among children and adolescents internationally, especially in developing countries. India, a developing country covers 40% of undernourished children of the world. In India, tribal population is among the most deprived and undernourished people. The present study shows the prevalence of undernutrition among Kolam tribal children and adolescents by comparing different Body Mass Index (BMI) cut off points. Age and sex specific nutritional status of studied population shows 15.01% boys and 18.35% girls are in Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) III category, 16.22% boys and 19.32% girls are in CEDII, 31.71% boys and 2.72% girls are in CEDI only 0.96% boys and 1.69% girls are in overweight category respectively. Undernutrition is not limited to young children, even adults are also severely underweight in developing countries. Health and nutrition of today’s adolescent girls may have great impact on the quality of next generation. Proper nutritional programs and health policies are needed to be implemented among tribals to solve the problem of undernutrition and similar studies should be planned in other underprivileged sections worldwide.

This study was undertaken to determine the overall prevalence of undernutrition using the composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) among the Bauri caste rural preschool children of the Purulia District, West Bengal, India. A total of 347 children (185 boys and 162 girls) aged 2-6 years were measured. Stunting, underweight and wasting were used to evaluate the nutritional status of the subjects (compared with children of the United States NCHS reference sample) and CIAF for the total children. Among the studied Bauri children, 39.2% were stunted, 51.2% - underweight and 26.6% - wasted. The CIAF showed a higher prevalence of undernutrition, with a total of 66.3% of Bauri caste preschool children suffering from at least one type of "anthropometric failure". Among the studied children only 33.7% showed no failure. Valuable health and nutrition promotional programs can be formulated based on the CIAF findings with the ultimate objective of reducing childhood undernutrition in a population of India.

Objectives: A community based cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of undernutrition using body mass index (BMI) among 7-18 year old Santal children and adolescents of Purulia District, West Bengal, India. Methods: A total of 421 (217 boys) children from ten villages was measured. Age and sex specific new international BMI (kg/m2) based cut off values were used to evaluate nutritional status. Results: Although girls had greater mean weight and BMI than boys, these sex differences were not statistically significant. Moreover, boys and girls had almost similar mean heights. Although more girls (44.6%) than boys (38.3%) were undernourished, this sex difference was also not significant. The overall prevalence of thinness (41.3%) was very high among the studied Santal children and adolescents. Conclusion: The children and adolescents of both sexes were observed to be under serious and critical nutritional stress. (Key words: Thinness; BMI; boys; girls; Santal; undernutrition)Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2011; 40(3): 105-110DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljch.v40i3.3507 (This DOI was corrected on 4/11/2011 so please use this version to refer to this article)