Original scientific paper
Nutritional Assessment by Mid-Upper Arm Circumference of Santal Adults of Purulia, West Bengal, India
Subal Das
Kaushik Bose
Abstract
The present community based cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of undernutrition using
mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) among adult (> 18 years) Santals of Purulia District, West Bengal, India. It
was undertaken at 10 villages of the district. A total of 520 (217 males and 303 females) subjects were measured. Commonly
used indicator i.e., MUAC and BMI, were used to evaluate the nutritional status of the subjects. More women
(64.7%) then men (54.4%) based on MUAC and women (59.4%) then men (34.6%) based on BMI were undernourished.
Significant sex difference both in MUAC (t=2.378, p<0.05) and BMI (t=4.971, p<0.001) were observed. Significant age
group difference for MUAC was observed (F=8.93***, df=3) for men and (F=9.52***, df=3) for women. For BMI, these
values were F=10.10*** (df=3) F=6.17*** (df=3) respectively. In conclusion, we found that adult Santals of both sexes
were under critical nutritional stress, women and the oldest among them were the most.
Keywords
MUAC; BMI; Santal; Purulia; tribe; nutritional status
Hrčak ID:
84854
URI
Publication date:
10.7.2012.
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