Nutritional status of primary school children in a rural area of Lucknow

Summary

A study of the nutritional status of 812 rural primary school children from 6 to 15 years of age is presented. Most of the children came from the large low socio-economic group of rural families.

The diet in a sample of 45 families was deficient in all nutrients except carbohydrates, iron and thiamine and yielded only 2,390 calories per consumption unit.

The height and weight average in the various age groups of the two sexes were comparable with those of the all India I.C.M.R. study except in the growth spurt period where they fell much below the all India I.C.M.R. figures.

77.1 per cent of the children suffered from malnutrition. Signs of protein-calorie deficiency were found in 60.8 per cent of vitamin A deficiency in 46.3, of vitamin D/calcium lack and of essential fatty acids in 10.3 per cent each. Malnutrition had a dampening effect on their growth potential particularly during the spurt period. Dental caries was seen in 48.9 per cent, peridontial disease in 83 per cent and mottling in 16.3 per cent. 23 per cent stools were positive for ankylostomiasis. Only 2 per cent had a good physique whereas 39.9 per cent had fair and 58.1 per cent had poor physique.