Authors:

Abstract

Correction: On 8th September 2014, the title was changed from 'Anglong district' to 'Karbi Anglong district'. The name of the district was corrected in this way throughout the paper.

Background: Undernutrition is a major public health problem affecting children and adolescents of developing countries such as India and causes high mortality and morbidity.

Objective: To assess prevalence of undernutrition among tribal adolescents of Karbi Anglong district of Assam, Northeast India

Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 864 (448 boys) tribal Karbi adolescents aged 10-17 years of Karbi Anglong district of Assam, Northeast India. Height and weight were recorded and the body mass index calculated. WHO recommended indices of stunting (height-for-age, <3^rd percentile of National Centre of Health Statistics) and thinness (BMI-for-age, <5^th percentile, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) were used to assess the prevalence of undernutrition.

Results: Overall mean height, weight and BMI were found to be significantly higher among boys than girls (p<0.05). Age specific mean BMI values ranged from 16.8 kg/m² to 20.1 kg/m² in boys and 15.1 kg/m² to 18.7 kg/m² in girls 10-17 years old. Overall prevalence of stunting (51.2%) was found markedly higher than thinness (13.4%). Sex-specific overall stunting was similar among girls (50.2%) and boys (50.1%). Overall prevalence of thinness was slightly higher among girls (14.9%) than boys (12.05%) (p> 0.05).

Conclusion: Stunting was present in 51.2% and thinness in 13.4% among Karbi adolescents of Karbi Anglong district of Assam, Northeast India.

(Keywords: Stunting; thinness; BMI; adolescents; anthropometry)

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2014; 43(3): 154-157

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljch.v43i3.7375

Keywords: Stunting, thinness, BMI, adolescents, anthropometry