Critical nutritional stress among adult tribal populations of West Bengal and Orissa, India.

Abstract

This paper deals with cross-sectional studies carried out during the period 2004-2007. It is based on eight data sets of tribals of Paschim Medinipur and Bankura Districts of West Bengal and Keonjhar District of Orissa. The tribes include Bhumijs, Kora Mudis, Lodhas, Santals, Bathudis and Savars. Height and weight were measured following standard techniques. The body mass index (BMI) was computed following standard equation. Nutritional status (chronic energy deficiency, CED) was evaluated using internationally accepted cut-off values of BMI. We followed the World Health Organization's classification (1995) of the public health problem of low BMI, based on adult populations worldwide. Our results show that, in general, among the tribes studied:i)Both sexes had very low levels of BMI ii)There existed high rates of CED indicating a critical nutritional condition iii)Women experienced greater nutritional stress iv)The nutritional situation is similar in both West Bengal as well as Orissa.