Assessment of micronutrient deficiencies among tribal primary school children of Meghalaya, India

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the micronutrient deficiencies among the tribal primary school children aged 8-11 years of the Meghalaya tribes. It was a Cross-sectional study. The duration of study was from 2012 to 2013. Total sample size was 1399 children. All primary children selected for the study were interviewed through school teachers or parents. Clinical examination and Hemoglobin estimation was done using Portable Haemoglobinometer (Hb Haemoglobin testing system, USA). Maximum nutritional deficiency reported by clinical examination in both tribes of primary school children was vitamin C deficiency with the symptoms of spongy and bleeding gums followed by iron deficiency anaemia. However, mean prevalence rate of anaemia in both the tribes of Meghalaya children is not significant with the mean (SD) value of 9.92 (1.71) irrespective of the gender and age with respect to blood haemoglobin concentration. There was also a significant critical difference in the distribution of different grades of anaemia i.e. moderate (0.031) and severe (0.127) among the age group of 8-11 years. And the highest prevalence of anemia was reported in the boys (84.65 %) than girls (83.98 %). Clinical examination should be screened periodically and appropriate measures should be taken in order to prevent from other prevailing nutritional related diseases. Further, the high prevalence of mild and moderate anemia demands due emphasis so as to bring down the total prevalence of anemia in primary school children.

Food Habits of People in Meghalaya and its Effect on Health of Women and Children

“…Meghalaya is having almost 40.7 percent of children between the age of 6 to 59 months who are anaemic and among all districts, East Garo Hills have three fourth of children (75.4%) found to be anaemic which is really a grim picture. A study by Singh et al, (2018) reported maximum nutritional deficiency reported by clinical examination in primary school children in the state was vitamin C deficiency with the symptoms of spongy and bleeding gums followed by iron deficiency anaemia. There is a vicious cycle of anaemia where the anaemic population is bound to give birth to anaemic children, when proper intervention is not given.…”