Prevalence of stunting and thinness among early adolescent school girls of paschim medinipur district, west bengal

The study was conducted to evaluate nutritional status of early adolescent (10-14 years) school girls in rural sectors of West Bengal. A cross sectional study was carried out in six Govt. approved school of Pingla block of Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal. Height and weight were measured using standard procedures. BMI was computed from height and weight. Height-for-age below 3rd percentile values of NCHS reference was classified as stunting. BMI-for-age below 5th percentile values of WHO recommended reference was classified as thinness. Prevalence of stunting and thinness were also estimated using Indian references values. Prevalence of stunting was 34.20% relative to NCHS reference which was reduced to almost 18.10% when compared with Indian reference. Prevalence of thinness was 40.94% relative to NCHS reference and 23.84% according to ‘Indian Academy of Pediatrics’ references. This study demonstrated that early adolescent school girls of study area were under serious nutritional stress indicating a public health problem.