Nutritional Status Based on Anthropometry of Tribal Preschool Children in Paschim Medinipur District of West Bengal, India

Objectives
There is a paucity of data on nutritional status among tribal preschool children. Therefore a study was conducted to determine the nutritional status based on anthropometry among rural preschool children.
Methods
A community based cross sectional study was conducted during July-August 2009 in a village of Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal, India. Nutritional status was determined based on weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height and mid upper arm circumference-for-age z-scores method. Prevalence of undernutrition was defined as Z-score <-2.0 SD from the new WHO reference standards.
Results
A total of 65 Munda and Oraon children aged 13-60 months were included in the present study. Overall, the prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was 61.5 %,38.5% and 55.4%, respectively. The prevalence of undernutrition was 56.9% based on MUAC, of whom, 44.6% and 12.3% children was moderately and severely undernourished, respectively. It was observed that the MUAC had good agreement (Kappa=0.84) with underweight, followed by moderate agreement with wasting (Kappa=0.53). While poor agreement was found with stunting (Kappa=0.28).
Conclusion
According to WHO criteria for severity of malnutrition, the overall prevalence of stunting was high while underweight and wasting were very high, indicating a critical situation.