A Comparative Study on Physical Growth and Nutritional Status between Chakma and Riang Adolescent Boys of Tripura, Northeast India | Original Article

ABSTRACT:

Background Growth and nutritional status is a major public health concern for children and adolescents of developing countries such as India and causes high mortality and morbidity. Objective To assess the prevalence of malnutrition among Chakma and Riang adolescent boys of North and Dhalai district of Tripura, a Northeastern state of India. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out among 778 (Chakma 391 nos. and Riang 387 nos.) ethnic adolescent boys aged 8-14 years of North and Dhalai district of Tripura, Northeast India. Height and weight were recorded and the body mass index was calculated. WHO recommended indices of stunting (height-for-age, ˂-1 and ˂-2 Z score level), thinness (BMI-forage,<3rd and <5th percentile, WHO, 2007) and overweight (≥85th percentile, WHO, 2007) were used to assess the prevalence of malnutrition. Results Age specific mean values in height, weight and BMI gradually increased. Ethnic population specific stunting was far different among Chakma boys (32.47 mild and moderate stunting 25.31 and 7.16 respectively) and Riang boys (40.82 mild and moderate stunting 29.71 and 11.11 respectively). Age specific mean BMI values ranged from 15.14 kgm to 18.50 kgm2 in Chakma boys and 14.98 kgm2 to 18.39 kgm2 in Riang boys of 8 to 14 years old. Overall prevalence of thinness was higher among Riang boys (24.81 mild and moderate thinness 19.63 and 5.17 respectively) than Chakma boys (15.6 mild and moderate thinness 12.79 and 2.81 respectively) and only 4.63 boys (Chakma boys 3.33 and Riang boys 1.3) are overweight there is no record of obesity in this study population (p˂ 0.05). Conclusion Riang boys (40.82) are more stunted than Chakma boys (32.48). Prevalence of stunting was 36.63 in the whole study population. Riang boys (24.80) also more thin than Chakma boys (15.6), where overall Thinness were found in 20.18 among tribal adolescent boys of North and Dhalai District of Tripura. Height for age, Weight for age and BMI value in different age group are slightly lower in both the ethnic population than the national (IAP, 2005) and international reference value (WHO, 2007). Overall mean height, weight and BMI were not found to be significantly different between rural Chakma and Riang adolescent boys but different from national and international age-specific variables.