ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF THE BODO TRIBES OF ASSAM
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Date
2023
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Abstract
The present investigation was undertaken to assess the nutritional status of the
Bodo tribes of Assam with the objectives to assess the socio-demographic profile and the
nutritional status of the study population in terms of anthropometric indices, food
consumption pattern, clinical and biochemical parameters along with the traditional/etnic
food processing and preservation practices of the target population. Three hundred eighty
eight households were selected by multistage proportionate probability sampling from
four districts of Assam, namely- Baksa, Chirang, Kokrajhar and Udalguri. Food
consumption pattern of the population revealed that four meals a day was practiced
which mainly comprises of the traditional food items prepared from rice, meat, dry fish,
pulses. The frequency of consumption of food groups by the Bodo households revealed
that cent per cent of the respondents consumed cereals, other vegetables, fats and oils and
sugar and jaggery on a daily basis. The mean value for household dietary diversity is 6
which indicate on an average the Bodo households consumed ≤7 food groups out of 12
food groups over the preceeding 24-hour. This indicates inadequate dietary diversity of
the Bodo households. The percentage distribution revealed that 56 per cent of the Bodo
households had inadequate household dietary diversity and 44 per cent of the Bodo
households had adequate household dietary diversity. The household food security status
of the Bodo households revealed that 62.27% were food secure, 27.73% were mildly
food insecure, 7% were moderately food insecure and 3% were severely food insecure.
Food intake pattern as analyzed in terms of Balanced Diet recommended, it was found
that the mean daily intake of cereals among 4-6 years was (93.36-95.44%) of the BDR.
The average daily intake of pulses was 71.93%-74.40% of the BDR. The mean daily
intake of meat, fish and poultry 84.32%-86.96% of the BDR. It was noteworthy to
mention that the mean daily intake of milk and milk products, fruits and green leafy
vegetables by 4-6 years boys and girls was 30.85%-36.52%, 39.22%-42.20% and
60.32%-64.12% respectively which was much lower than the BDR. The mean daily
intake of cereals was 115.43% of the BDR among 13-15 year adolescent girls. The mean
daily intake of pulses among 13-15 adolescent girls was 73.70% of the BDR. The mean
daily intake of meat, fish and poultry among 13-15 years adolescent girls was 85.52% of
the BDR. The mean daily intake of milk and milk products, fruits and green leafy
vegetables was 33.05%, 43.06%, 60.66% respectively among 13-15 years adolescent
girls. Mean daily intake of cereals by the 16-18 year adolescent girls was 131.61% of the
BDR. The mean daily intake of milk and milk products, fruits and green leafy vegetables
among 16-18 year adolescent girls was 18.02%, 38.46%, 66.16% of the BDR
respectively. The mean daily intake of meat fish and poultry among 16-18 year
adolescent girls was 88.96% of the BDR. The mean daily intake of cereals among the
pregnant women and lactating women was 167.48% and 125.05% of the BDR
respectively. It was found that the mean daily intake of milk and milk products, green
leafy vegetables and fruits among the pregnant women was 17.74%, 65.68% and 35.13%
of the BDR respectively. The mean daily intake of milk and milk products, green leafy
vegetables and fruits among the lactating women was 20.28%, 39.66% and 64.34% of the
BDR respectively. While analyzing the mean daily nutrient intake of 4-6 years boys and
girls, it was found that the mean daily intake of energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat was
87.51%, 91.40%, 178.53% and 87.36% of the EAR respectively among 4-6 years boys.
The average daily intake of iron, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin C was 73.25%, 76.88%,
62.16% and 70.48 % of the EAR respectively by 4-6 year boys. The mean daily intake of
energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat was 83.83%, 93.35%, 183.42%, 87.36% of the
EAR respectively among the 4-6 year girls. The average daily intake of iron, calcium,
vitamin A and vitamin C was 77.62%, 75.40%, 75.26% and 74.14% of the EAR among
the 4-6 years girls. The mean daily intake of energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat was
88.81%, 92.93%, 199.7%, 80.42% of the EAR respectively among 13-15 year girls. The
mean daily intake of iron, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin C was 70.11%, 77.07%,
74.33% and 69.30% of the EAR respectively among 13-15 year girls. The mean daily
intake of energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat was 84.42%, 91.74%,195.36%and 86.20%
of the EAR respectively among 16-18 year girls. The mean daily intake of iron, calcium,
vitamin A and vitamin C was 62.88%, 73.20%, 77.03%,74.58% of the EAR respectively
among 16-18 year girls. The average daily intake of energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat
was 105.54%, 91.68%, 239.37%, 87.33% of the EAR among pregnant women. The mean
daily intake of iron, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin C 69.21%, 71.51%,76.88% and
74.23% of the EAR respectively among pregnant women. The average daily intake of
energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat was 100.47%, 104.25%, 284.03% and 85.43% of
the EAR respectively among lactating women. The mean daily intake of iron, calcium,
vitamin A and vitamin C was 79.06%, 75.20%, 73.36% and 76.04% of the EAR
respectively among lactating women. Comparison of calculated macronutrient with
Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) for 4-6 years revealed that the
distribution of energy from carbohydrate, protein and fat was 60%, 8% and 15.16%
respectively. The distribution of energy from carbohydrate, protein and fat for 13-15 year
girls was 60.10%, 7.00% and 12.00% respectively. While comparing with AMDR, it was
found that the distribution of energy from carbohydrate was 75%, protein was 9% and fat
was 13% among 16-18 year adolescent girls. The distribution of energy from
carbohydrate, protein and fat was 79.30%, 9.10% and 11.12% respectively among
pregnant women. The distribution of energy from carbohydrate, protein and fat was 78%,
10%, 10.20% respectively among lactating women. The distribution of energy from
carbohydrate, protein and fat was 72.13%, 8% and 9.10% respectively among non
pregnant non lactating women. The anthropometric assessment of the 4-6 year boys
and girls in terms of height revealed that the height measurements were significantly
lower than the 95th centile values of height (ICMR) (p<0.05). The weight measurements
revealed that the mean weight was significantly lower than the 95th centile values of
weight (ICMR) (p<0.05). Per cent distribution of 4-6 years boys and girls according to
WHO (2007) Z-scores of height-for-age revealed that (70-83%) of the respondents were
normal while (17-30%) were stunted. According to WHO (2007) Z-scores weight-forage,
showed that (70-80.48%) of the 4-6 years boys and girls were in the normal range of
nutritional status while (19.52-30%) were underweight. The mid upper arm
circumference measurements among the 4-6 years children revealed that the mean
MUAC measurements were significantly lower than the ICMR standards(p<0.05).The
height measurements of the 13-15 years adolescent girls revealed that the mean height of
the target population was significantly lower than the 95th centil values of height
(ICMR).The weight measurents of 13-15 year adolescent girls, according to 95th centile
values of weight(ICMR) revealed that the mean weight was significantly lower than the
standards(p<0.05).The height measurements of 16-18 year adolescent girls according to
95th centile values of height (ICMR) showed that the mean height was significantly lower
than the ICMR standards(p<0.05). The comparison of mean weight of 16-18 year
adolescent girls with 95th centile values of weight revealed that the mean weight was
significantly lower than the ICMR standards. Per cent distribution of 13-18 year girls
according to WHO (2007) Z-scores of height-for-age revealed that (74.32-82.61%) were
in the normal range of nutritional status while (17.39-26.58%) were stunted. The
correlation between macronutrient intake and anthropometric measurements of 4-6 year
boys revealed that there was a positive significant correlation between fat intake and
weight (p<0.05). A positive significant correlation was observed between fat intake and
MUAC (p<0.05). The correlation between macronutrient intake and anthropometric
measurements of 4-6 year girls revealed that there was a positive significant correlation
between protein intake and height (p<0.05). The clinical assessment carried out among 4-
6 years children revealed that 24.09% of the children had dull and dry hair followed by
13.85% had thin hair. 15.66% had of the respondents had pale conjunctiva. Further it has
been noted that 21.68% of the respondents had gums swelling and bleeding. 23.49% of
the target children had dental caries followed by 6.02% had stained teeth. 25.30% of the
target children had dry flaky skin. The observed clinical signs and symptoms among 13-
15 years adolescent girls revealed that 17.64% of the 13-15 year girls had dull and dry
hair followed by 10.58% had thin hair.22.35 per cent of the respondents had pale
conjunctiva and 12.94% had pale conjunctiva. It was also observed that 24.70% had
chielosis and 11.76% had swelling and bleeding gums.18.82% had dental caries and
21.17% had dry flaky skin. The observed clinical signs and symptoms among 16-18 year
adolescent girls showed that 11.47% of the 16-17 year girls had dull and dry hair and
19.67 had thin hair. Among the target population, 16.39% had pale conjunctiva and 26.22
had dry conjunctiva. 22.95% of the respondents had gums swelling and bleeding. 31.14%
had dental caries. 21.31% had dry flaky skin and 18.03% had depigmentation. The mean
haemoglobin level of 13-18 year adolescent girls was 9.86gm/dl and the mean hoys
haemoglobin level of pregnant women was 10.25gm/dl. Per cent distribution of 13-18
year adolescent girls according to ICMR classification of aenemia showed that 74.22% of
the tribal adolescent girls had moderate anaemia followed by 23.72% had mild anaemia
and 2.06% had severe anaemia. The per cent distribution of pregnant women according
to ICMR classification of anemia revealed that 68.37% of the tribal pregnant women had
moderate anaemia followed by 27.63% had mild anaemia and 4.0% had severe anaemia.
The correlation between haemoglobin level and iron intake of 13-18 year girls revealed
that there was a positive significant correlation between haemoglobin level and iron
intake (p<0.05). Correlation between haemoglobin level and vitamin C intake of 13-18
year adolescent girls revealed that there was a positive significant correlation between
haemoglobin level and vitamin C intake of the 13-18 years adolescent girls(p<0.05). The
correlation between haemoglobin level and iron intake of the pregnant women revealed
that there was a positive significant correlation between haemoglobin level and iron
intake of the pregnant women (p<0.05). Correlation between haemoglobin level and
vitamin C intake of pregnant women revealed that there was a positive significant
correlation between haemoglobin level and vitamin c intake of the pregnant
women(p<0.05). Per cent distribution of adolescents (13-18 years) according to ICMR
classification of anemia revealed that 74.22% of the tribal adolescent girls had moderate
anemia followed by 23.72% had mild anemia and 2.06% had severe anemia. The per cent
distribution of pregnant women according to ICMR classification of anemia showed that
68.37% of the tribal pregnant women had moderate anemia followed by 27.63% had mild
anemia and 4.0% had severe anemia. The food processing and preservation practices
traditionally followed by Bodo household revealed that fermentation, sun drying,
methods were adopted for preserving food products like Zwu/rice beer, Narzi/dry jute
leaves, Nga gwarn/dry fish and Napham/dry fish chutney and used either in daily meal as
adjunct or accessory item or main dish during lean season or for festival which was
entwined in their food history and culinary practices from time immemorial.