Abstract
India’s Adivasi scheduled tribe population is disproportionately affected by undernutrition and anemia, thereby prevailing in the poorest wealth deciles denominated as socially and economically vulnerable. This study was designed to assess the extent of child undernutrition (conventional and composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) classification), as well as the burden of anemia in children and its independent nutrition specific and sensitive drivers, moreover to reflect the living conditions of Santal Adivasis. The research survey was conducted in 21 Santal villages, Birbhum District, West Bengal, in 2015. An overall 307 children (aged 6–39 months) and their mothers (n = 288) were assessed for their hemoglobin (Hb) levels (HemoCue Hb201+) and anthropometric indices such as height/length, weight and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Moreover, socio-demographic household characteristics were surveyed. The study confirmed Adivasi children lagging behind national average with a high prevalence of undernutrition (height-for-age z-score (HAZ) 51.9%, weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) 49.2%, weight-for-height z-score WHZ 19.0% and CIAF 61.6%) and of moderate and severe anemia (Hb < 10 g/dL, 73.3% altogether). Child’s age <24 months, low WAZ scores, morbidity (any fever, diarrhea or respiratory infection) on the checkup day or during previous week, low maternal Hb level, and lack of dietary diversification were identified as predictors for anemia, thereby warrant targeted interventions to decrease the high anemia rates assessed in the study site.
Highlights
The term ‘Scheduled Tribes’ first appeared in the Constitution of India
The questionnaire was designed based on a set of sample questionnaires that had been successfully applied during field research in developing countries, and was further supplemented with specific questions relevant to the current research and optimized based on the long-lasting experience of project coordinators in the study area
The interviews were individually scheduled by 11 trained social workers
Summary
The term ‘Scheduled Tribes’ first appeared in the Constitution of India. Article 366 (25) defines scheduled tribes as: “such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under Article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of this constitution“ [1]. Scheduled tribes in India account for 8.6% of the total population as per the Census conducted in 2011 [2]. These tribal people are commonly called “Adivasis”—an umbrella term for. The type of household (HH) structure (n = 291) was balanced between nuclear family (49.1%) and an extended form of HH structure, where father, mother and children live together with other relatives under one roof (50.9%). The range of HH members was between three and 16 persons (on average five persons). The number of own children in one HH ranged from one to five
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