English

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a critical period of biological, psychological and social changes, as achievement of optimum growth in girls is considered utmost, improving future health. Early and convenient method of assessing nutritional status and socioeconomic status of growing children is anthropometry. Body mass index (BMI) is a widely used parameter. AIMS & OBJECTIVES: 1) To study some socio-demographic characteristics of non-slum and slum adolescent girls of Urban Health Center, Dr. V. M. Medical College, Solapur. 2) To compare the Body Mass Indices of the same respondents. SETTING & DESIGN: This study was done at Urban Health Center; Solapur. It was a community based cross-sectional study done involving 246 adolescent girls (116 non-slums and 130 slums). METHODOLOGY: By doing house to house survey, the girls were interviewed with the help of predesigned, pretested questionnaire. Their socio demographic information was collected. Body mass index was calculated by using height and weight and compared with CDC 2000 standards (U.S.). Statistical tests-chi square test, Z-test, t test. RESULTS: There was significant difference between the socioeconomic status, literacy of non-slum and slum girls. Majority of the girls i.e. 78.45% were giving BMI in normal range i.e. 5th to 85th percentiles of CDC 2000 standards (U.S.). The number of girls with (BMI<5th percentile) was significantly more in slum girls as compared to non-slum adolescent girls. CONCLUSION: Overweight was not the problem in study population. About 8.6% non-slum and 21.54% girls were having BMI below 3rd percentile of the CDC 2000 standards (U.S.). Growth monitoring; Nutritional supplementation should be given to adolescent girls to prevent nutritional deficiencies, especially in slum area.