title: Inter-relationships of income, chronic energy deficiency, morbidity and hospitalization among adult male slum dwellers of Midnapore, West Bengal, India.
abstract: A cross-sectional study of 212 adult (>18 years) male slum dwellers (mean age=34.6+/-14.4 years) of Midnapore town, West Bengal, India, was undertaken to study the inter-relationships of chronic energy deficiency (CED), monthly family income (MFI), self-reported morbidity and hospitalization due to severe illness. The mean height, weight and body mass index (BMI) of the subjects were 160.0 cm, 50.8 kg and 19.9 kg/m2, respectively. The overall frequencies of CED (BMI<18.5 kg/m2), morbidity and hospitalization were 38.2%, 34.4% and 13.7%, respectively. Based on the WHO classification, the prevalence of CED among this population was high (20-39%), indicating a serious situation. Overall, MFI was significantly (p<0.01) positively correlated with BMI (r=0.21). Linear regression analyses showed that MFI had a significant impact (t=3.08; p<0.002) on BMI. Overall, MFI explained 3.9% variation in BMI. Subjects belonging to the lowest family income group (FIG I) had the lowest mean BMI (19.1 kg/m2) and the highest rate of CED (46.3%) and morbidity (36.6%). Those in the highest family income group (FIG III) had the largest mean BMI (20.8 kg/m2) and lowest rate of CED (30.2%) and morbidity (30.2%). The highest rate (18.9%) of hospitalization was found in this group. There were significant family income group differences in mean BMI (F=3.134, p<0.05). The frequency of morbidity (24.6%) and hospitalization (11.9%) was lowest among normal BMI individuals. Morbidity was significantly higher (chi2=11.92, p=0.0026) among CED (48.2%) subjects compared with normal BMI individuals (OR=2.85; CI=1.49-5.46). Similarly, compared with normal BMI subjects, morbidity was higher (38.5%; OR=1.92; 95% CI=0.50-7.18) among overweight subjects. Hospitalization was more common among CED subjects (16.1%; OR=1.42; CI=0.58-3.45) compared with normal BMI subjects. Similarly, the frequency of hospitalization was more among overweight individuals (15.4%; OR=1.35; 95% CI=0.0-7.59). In conclusion, this study provides evidence that the frequency of CED among this population is high, indicating a serious situation. Moreover there exists strong inter-relationships between BMI, CED, MFI and morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Kaushik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bose
authors.forename: Samiran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bisai
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Swapan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dikshit
authors.forename: Sampa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pradhan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors