Anne Marie Darling1, Wafaie W Fawzi2, Anamitra Barik3, Abhijit Chowdhury3, Rajesh Kumar Rai4. 1. Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Electronic address: adarling@hsph.harvard.edu. 2. Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 3. Society for Health and Demographic Surveillance, Suri 731101, West Bengal, India. 4. Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Society for Health and Demographic Surveillance, Suri 731101, West Bengal, India.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of underweight, stunting, and overweight among adolescents in rural West Bengal, India, and identify factors contributing to these forms of malnutrition. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted within the Birbhum Health and Demographic Surveillance System in West Bengal, India. Participants were male and female adolescents 10 to 19 y of age (N = 5521). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using measured heights and weights and z-scores based on the 2007 World Health Organization growth standards. Information on demographic characteristics, diet, and health behaviors was collected through face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between each risk factor and outcome. RESULTS: The proportion of underweight was 26.6% overall: 31.1% among boys, and 21.1% among girls. The proportion of stunting was 25% overall: 23.3% among boys and 26.9% among girls. Of the participants, 4.6% were overweight or obese: 4.1% boys and 5.2% girls. Compared with boys, girls had a reduced likelihood of being underweight (adjusted PR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.59-0.75). Multivariate models also showed that socioeconomic status was strongly associated with all nutritional outcomes. Not having a toilet facility in one's household and poor hand hygiene were also associated with a greater likelihood of stunting. CONCLUSION: The present results suggested that adolescents in Birbhum, India are substantially affected by the double burden of malnutrition. Nutritional interventions should incorporate efforts to reduce socioeconomic inequality.
OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of underweight, stunting, and overweight among adolescents in rural West Bengal, India, and identify factors contributing to these forms of malnutrition. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted within the Birbhum Health and Demographic Surveillance System in West Bengal, India. Participants were male and female adolescents 10 to 19 y of age (N = 5521). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using measured heights and weights and z-scores based on the 2007 World Health Organization growth standards. Information on demographic characteristics, diet, and health behaviors was collected through face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between each risk factor and outcome. RESULTS: The proportion of underweight was 26.6% overall: 31.1% among boys, and 21.1% among girls. The proportion of stunting was 25% overall: 23.3% among boys and 26.9% among girls. Of the participants, 4.6% were overweight or obese: 4.1% boys and 5.2% girls. Compared with boys, girls had a reduced likelihood of being underweight (adjusted PR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.59-0.75). Multivariate models also showed that socioeconomic status was strongly associated with all nutritional outcomes. Not having a toilet facility in one's household and poor hand hygiene were also associated with a greater likelihood of stunting. CONCLUSION: The present results suggested that adolescents in Birbhum, India are substantially affected by the double burden of malnutrition. Nutritional interventions should incorporate efforts to reduce socioeconomic inequality.
Authors: Madhumita Bhattacharyya; Soumit Roy; Asim Sarkar; Rabindra N Sinha; Ashok K Mallick; Sayanti Bandyopadhyay Journal: J Family Med Prim Care Date: 2021-08-27