Title: Nutritional Status of School Children in an Urban Area of Odisha- A Comparative Study in Govt. vs. Private School
Authors: Krishna Kar, Sasmita Pradhan, Barada Prasanna Samal
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i6.14
Abstract
Background: Healthy childhood is the basis for healthy and productive adult life. School is the place where apart from formal education; children also learn behavioral, lifestyle and moral values. Nutritional status of the child is one of the key factors determining the enrollment, performance and continuation in school.
Objective: To assess the nutritional status of school children.
Material and Methods: The present cross sectional study was carried out in selected schools (both govt. and Private) of urban field practice area of SCB Medical College, Cuttack, Odisha during January 2016 to December 2016. A total of 660 school going children were taken for the study. After taking informed consent of the head of the school data was collected by using a Pre-designed, pre-tested questionnaire. The anthropometric measurements such as weight, height were measured for nutritional status.
Results: In the present study 45.9% children were underweight. Both male and female students of private school were significantly taller than their counterparts of govt. school except for 5th class male students. The mean weight of private school students (for both the class and sex wise) was significantly more than that of in govt. school.
Conclusion: In the present study the nutritional status of the govt. school children was poor as compared to private school children.
Keywords: Nutritional status, children, govt. vs. private school, urban area, anthropometric measurement.
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