International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health | October 2016 | Vol 3 | Issue 10 Page 2832
International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health
Tondare D et al. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2016 Oct;3(10):2832-2835
http://www.ijcmph.com
pISSN 2394-6032 | eISSN 2394-6040
Research Article
Nutritional and health profile among residential school children in
rural areas of YSR Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, India
Devidas Tondare
1
*, Rahul Netrgaonkar
2
, Suresh Kumbhar
3
, K. J. Kishore
4
,
K. Chandrasekhar
5
, N. Khadervali
6
INTRODUCTION
Malnutrition is a significant problem among school going
children all over the world particularly in developing
countries. Factors related to the malnutrition may vary
from region to region and part to part of the world. But
basic problem remains the same like poverty, illiteracy
and unequal distribution of food to the residents in
particular areas. As majority of school children are in
adolescent age group and this period is transitory period
ABSTRACT
Background: Malnutrition is a significant problem in school going children all over the world particularly in
developing countries. Factors related to the malnutrition may vary from region to region and part to part of the world.
The main aim was to study the health status and nutritional problems among the school children residing in the
residential schools.
Methods: Cross sectional study conducted at residential schools around Kadapa among students (boys and girls) in
age group 10 to 13 years. Total 393 students were selected from four different schools and divided in to the two
categories and three age groups study was conducted in one month (December 2011) with personal interviews of
students in preformed questionnaire followed by general examination and laboratory tests.
Results: 393 students were enrolled in the study 213 (54.2%) boys and 180 (45.8%) girls, 10-11 years 122 (31.04%),
11-12 years 132 (33.59%) and 12-13 years 139 (35.37%) participants were enrolled. Following morbidity conditions
were observed among participants, URI 91 (23.16%), pediculosis 97 (24.68%), scabies 63 (16.03%), worms in stool
62 (15.78%), refractive errors 49 (12.47%), ear 17 (4.33%), dental carries 79 (20.10%), vitamin A deficiency 42
(10.69%), vitamin B deficiency 101 (25.7%), anemia 177 (45.04%) participants.
Conclusions: Anemia is one of the leading causes of morbidity among the school going children with vitamin
deficiency. Apart from that, conditions related with personal hygiene are also present like pediculosis, scabies and
worm infestations. Respiratory tract infections are common and repeated attacks of respiratory infections are present
among the participants.
Keywords: Nutritional status, School children, Adolescent, Residential schools
1
Department of Community Medicine, ESIC Medical College & PGIMSR KK Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
2
Department of Community Medicine, PDVVPFS Medical College, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India
3
Department of Community Medicine, ESIC Medical College & PGIMSR Rajaji Nagar, Bangalore, India
4
Department of Community Medicine, Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal, Telangana, India
5
Department of Community Medicine, ASRRAMS Medical College, Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India
6
Department of Community Medicine, Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh,
India
Received: 02 August 2016
Accepted: 01 September 2016
*Correspondence:
Dr. Devidas Tondare,
E-mail: ntondare@gmail.com
Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20163369