Nutritional status of adult men from the oraon tribe in ranchi district of jharkhand, India.
A cross-sectional study was undertaken to investigate anthropometric characteristics and nutritional status among adult male (18 years and above) Oraons (n = 290), a tribe in the Ranchi District of the state of Jharkhand in India. The anthropometric characteristics (stature, body weight and mid upper arm circumference or MUAC) were categorised into three age-groups (18-39 years, 40-59 years and 60 years and above). This particular investigation recorded a low (18.48Kg/m2) body mass index (BMI) and a high frequency of under-nutrition (53.10% chronic energy deficiency or CED) among the adult Oraons. BMI and CED of the adult Oraons were also compared with some populations of eastern India. It is noted that 38.28% of adult Oraons suffer from under-nutrition when the nutritional status of their population is evaluated by the standard cut-off points of MUAC. Pearson correlations of BMI and MUAC with age exhibited significantly (p< 0.001) negative correlations among the Oraons. Correlations between BMI and MUAC in their population showed a high significance (p< 0.0001). Significant age-related variations (tested by one-way ANOVA) in anthropometric parameters were observed in the Oroan population. Linear regression analyses revealed more or less significant negative impacts of age on BMI and MUAC in the population.
Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore - 721 102, West Bengal, India.
Sudip Datta
SD
Banik