Sadaruddin Biswas

Prevalence of undernutrition among pre-school children of Chapra, Nadia District, West Bengal, India, measured by composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF)

Since independence, one of the greatest problems facing India is malnutrition among under five year old children. However, there exists scanty information of the prevalence of undernutrition among preschool children in India and West Bengal. The present cross-sectional study investigates the prevalence of undernutrition among children 3.0-5.9 years old in a rural area of West Bengal covered by the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS) using Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF). Randomly selected sixty six ICDS centres of the Chapra Block Nadia District, West Bengal, India, were chosen. A total of 2016 children, aged 3.0-5.9 years were studied. It was observed that boys were heavier and taller than girls at all ages. Significant age differences existed in mean height and weight in boys as well as in girls. Among the children, 48.20%, 10.60% and 48.30% were stunting, wasted and underweight, respectively. The CIAF showed a higher prevalence of undernutrition, with 60.40% of the studied children suffering from anthropometric failure, in comparison to the three other conventional indicators. We conclude that the nutritional status of the subjects is unsatisfactory. More studies dealing with CIAF should be undertaken among pre-school children from different parts of India. Such investigations will allow us not only to compare the rates of three conventional measures of undernutrition with CIAF, but also help to demonstrate the enhanced utility and effectiveness of the latter measure.

Sibling Composition and Household Room Sharing are Associated with Menarcheal Status among Rural Bengalee Girls of West Bengal, India

Abstract Menarche, the first menstruation, is one of the most important events in a womans reproductive life. The timing of menarche varies across populations and depends upon social interaction and family environment. It is also associated with several biological as well as social factors. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between sibling composition and age at menarche (AAM) and to assess the association between the pattern of room sharing with family members of different sexes and menarcheal occurrence among rural Bengalee girls from West Bengal, India. The total sample comprised 577 Bengalee girls, 6–17 years of age, from various schools and madrasas in two blocks of the Nadia District of West Bengal State in India. The effects of room sharing on the occurrence of menarche, and of sibling composition on the menarcheal age, were assessed by analyses of covariance. The room-sharing pattern had a significant effect on menarcheal status (yes/no): a significantly higher percentage of girls who shared a room with the mother and/or sisters were postmenarcheal compared with those who shared a room with male family members. AAM did not differ significantly between girls having brothers or sisters. However, sibling order had a significant impact on AAM. Girls who had a younger sibling only (brother or sister) had a higher mean AAM, and girls who had both younger brothers and younger sisters had significantly higher mean AAM, than did the girls who had no younger sibling (singletons or having only elder siblings). There was no difference in AAM between the girls who had younger sister(s) and those who had younger brother(s). These differences were also independent of body mass index. In conclusion, the room sharing characteristics and the sibling sex composition, particularly their order, had significant effect on menarche in adolescent rural Bengalee girls.

Very High Prevalence of Thinness Among Rural Bengalee Preschool Children of Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) Scheme of Sagar Island, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India

Objective: To assess the prevalence of thinness among 3.0-5.5 years old preschool children of integrated child development services (ICDS) scheme of Sagar Block, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 656 preschool children (326 boys and 330 girls). Height (cm) and weight (kg) measurements were taken according to standard procedure. The body mass index (BMI) of the subjects were categorised according to the new international cut-off point for thinness proposed by Cole et al. Low BMI for age was defined as thinness and age sex specific cut off values of mild, moderate and severe grades of thinness as proposed by Cole et al. Results: The age combined mean BMI were 13.48 (±0.92) kg/m2 for boys and 13.30 (±1.00) kg/m2 for girls. Sex combined mean BMI was 13.39 (±0.96) kg/m2. The mean BMI showed a decreasing trend irrespective of sex up to age of 4.5 year. Over all (age combined) sex difference in mean BMI was observed (t=2.37; p<0.05) and age specific sex differences in mean BMI were also noticed at the age of 3.0 (t= 2.27; p<0.05) and 3.5 (t=3.02; p<0.05) years. The age combined prevalence of thinness among the boys and girls were 81.90% and 80.61%, respectively. Sex combined prevalence rate of thinness was 81.25%. The highest prevalence rates of thinness were found to be 96.83% in age group 5 years for boys and for girls it was 100% in age group of 5.5 years. The maximum numbers (41.86%) of normal nutritional status individuals were observed for boys at age group 3.5 years and for girls it was 34.00% at age 4 years. Conclusion: The results of the present study clearly indicated that the nutritional status of these subjects is poor because of the existence of high-level of thinness. Findings of the present study would be very useful for the effective formulation of health and nutritional intervention programmes with the objective of reducing preschool undernutrition in terms of thinness. Therefore, appropriate effective measures should be under taken to reduce this high rate thinness.