A Study of Prevalence and Underlying Causes of Undernutrition among Santal Pre-School Children (1-5 Years) of West Bengal

Abstract

(Boys - 86.63% and Girls – 56.10%), stunting (Boys -76.24% and Girls – 57.56%) and wasting (Boys - 59.41% and Girls – 30.73%) were significantly higher in boys than girls in santal pre-school children. Dietary assessment showed that mean energy and protein intake were lower amount in santal boys and girls compare with RDA of India. Health assessment found that prevalence of common diseases was fever, common cold, diarrhoea, dysentery, scabies and jaundice in santal pre-school children. Santal boys were more vulnerable than santal girls with these diseases like fever, common cold and jaundice. Study also found that most of the parents in santal children preferred treatment during illness or disease by unqualified quack doctor than health centre or hospital and private MBBS clinic. It was found that overall economic condition of santal children family’s was very poor. Analysis of literacy in parents showed that percentage of illiteracy of both father and mother was very poor in santal pre-school children and fathers of santal communities were involved with verities type of occupation. Most of the santal families used unsafe drinking water and their sanitary facility was also very poor. Food pattern and socio-cultural practices were remarkably very poor. The study suggests that santal pre-school children of both Bankura and Paschim Medinipur are suffering from undernutrition severely in the form of stunting, underweight and wasting. This may be not only dietary inadequacy of protein and energy of their diet but also their poor health status which again may be a reflection of poor socio economic, socio cultural and unhygienic personal habits of the community.