title: Nutritional Status of under 5 Children belonging to Tribal Population Living in Riverine (Char) Areas of Dibrugarh District, Assam.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Assam's main lifeline, the Brahmaputra river, braided nature created numerous sand bars and islands known as chars/sapories. They are home to more than 3 million people. Over 90% of the cultivated land on the river islands is flood-prone; the flood leaves the islands completely separated from mainland, preventing access to health infrastructure and services.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the nutritional status of under 5 children residing in the char areas of Dibrugarh district and to identify the factors influencing their nutritional status.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community-based cross-sectional study conducted in the riverine areas of Dibrugarh district of Assam.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometry. Undernutrition was classified using World Health Organization (WHO) recommended Z- score system. Data collection was done by house to house visit of all chars using proportionate allocation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rates, ratios, proportions, and chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting was 29%, 30.4%, and 21.6%, respectively. Prevalence of underweight and stunting was less than the prevalence of underweight (36.4%) and stunting (46.5%) in Assam, but the prevalence of wasting was more than that of Assam (13.7%) as observed in National Family Health Survey-3. Significant association was observed between the prevalence of undernutrition and socioeconomic status, literacy status of parents, infant, and young child feeding practices and size of the family (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Special focus is needed for nutritional improvement of under 5 living in char areas to prevent preventable morbidities and to achieve optimum development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Safikul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Tulika Goswami
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Mahanta
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Ratna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sarma
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Saikia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hiranya
keywords: Assam; WHOs Z score; dibrugarh; nutritional status; riverine area