title: Prevalence of undernutrition, its determinants, and seasonal variation among tribal preschool children of Odisha state, India.
abstract: A community-based cross-sectional study was undertaken in the tribal areas of Odisha state, India, covering 1951 preschool children to assess their nutritional status in terms of underweight, stunting, and wasting; its correlates; and seasonal variation in nutritional status. χ(2) Test, one-way analysis of variance, and unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios were used for data analysis. The prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting was 58%, 65%, and 20%, respectively. The risk of underweight and stunting was, respectively, 1.9 and 2.4 times higher among children of illiterate mothers, whereas underweight and wasting was 1.4 times higher among children who had morbidities during the preceding fortnight. The prevalence of undernutrition was significantly (P < .01) higher during monsoon as compared with winter season. Undernutrition is an important public health problem and is associated with literacy of mother, morbidity, and season. Thus, improving socioeconomic condition, literacy, and sanitation along with insuring food security during monsoon season might improve nutritional status.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, India indrapal.m@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Indrapal I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Meshram
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Balakrishna
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arlappa
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mallikarjun Rao
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laxmaiah
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: G N V
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Brahmam
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019282:Wasting Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*