A study on nutritional status among rural Bengalee Muslim school going adolescent girls

Abstract

Background: Adolescent period is in-between period of childhood and adulthood. Studies revealed that rural female adolescents are suffering more than the urban girls, due to insufficient food intake, poor healthcare facilities and socioeconomic differences. Present study was an attempt to survey current malnutrition scenario among rural adolescent girls of Bengalee Muslim community of Cooch Behar district, West Bengal, India. Methods: A community based, cross sectional study has conducted from April to May, 2023 among rural Bengalee Muslim adolescent girls aged 10-14 years (n=160) of Cooch Behar district, West Bengal, India. Data were collected after informing and explaining the purpose of the present study to school authorities, students and their parents. Three anthropometric measurements like, height, weight, MUAC recorded using standard procedures. Derived variable BMI was calculated and nutritional status was assessed using height for age and BMI for age. The degree of stunting (low height for age) and thinness (low BMI for age) were categorized on the basis of the position of the plot. Age specific mean and standard deviation was done. One way ANOVA was done to find out age specific mean differences in the Anthropometric variables. The p value <0.05 was considered as statistically significance. Results: Overall prevalence of stunting and thinness was 28.12% and 22.5% respectively. Prevalence of overall severe stunting and thinness was 10.6% and 10% respectively. Overall prevalence of overweight was 11% respectively. Conclusions: Present study revealed about existence of double burden of malnutrition among rural Bengalee Muslim population.