Abstract: A cross sectional study of the growth status was carried out on 561 boys (279 Gond tribe boys & 282 non-tribe boys) aged 5+to 18+ years in Patharia block ,Mungeli district of Chhattisgarh. Aims : The study was aimed to find out the growth status of the Gond tribe boys of Patharia block, which is a semi-tribal area, and was compared with the Non-tribe boys of same block. Materials and Methods: The students were classified into two categories. The categories were Gond tribe (GT) boys & Non tribe (NT) boys excluding other tribe boys. They were grouped according to age group. Anthropometric measurements taken in to consideration are stature, body weight. Descriptive analysis was carried out and comparative statistics was used to observe difference between Gond Tribe boys & Non Tribe boys on anthropometric measurements and mean, standard deviation, student, t- test, p value was computed to see the relationship between anthropometric variables. Results: At all ages, Gond Tribe boys weighed less than Non tribe boys. At 5 years this difference was statistically highly significant. Later on Gond Tribe boys seemed to catch up with Non tribe boys up to the age of 10 years. At 11 and 12 years Gond Tribe boys were again significantly less in weight than Non tribe boys. At the age of 17 and 18 years Gond Tribe boys and Non tribe boys were equal in weight. When BMI was compared, at the most of ages BMI was less for Gond Tribe than Non tribe boys but the difference was not statistically significant. At 9 and 10 years BMI of Non tribe boys was statistically significantly lower than Gond Tribe boys. This may be because of spurt in height, while the weight lagged behind. In both, Gond Tribe and Non tribe boys, BMI progressively increased with age. According to Indian standards, amongst both groups, normal BMI was achieved at the age of 16 to 18 years. In spite of possibility of undernutrition as assessed by BMI, stature did not seem to be affected. What is noteworthy is that stature of most of the boys was normal. Based on study findings it can be concluded that the poor growth status of the Gond Tribe boys & Non tribe boys, as judged by body weight and BMI, in comparison to the international standard as well as Indian standard may be due to the poor socio-economic condition. However, what is most noteworthy is good development of stature in both Gond Tribe and Non tribe boys. BMI is the result of complex interaction between energy intake and energy expenditure. Other factors apart from undernutrition may be responsible for low BMI. This may include physical over activity. The factors responsible for low BMI in both, Gond Tribe and Non tribe boys, should be investigated further and proper intervention strategies should be evolved in future.
Keywords: Gond tribe, Nontribes, Chhattisgarh, Body mass index.
Title: Anthropometric Study of Growth Status of Gond Tribes and Nontribes Boys of Patharia Block, Mungeli District of Chhattisgarh
Author: Dharam Singh Rathia, Praveen B, SUDHA Deshpandey , Das R N, Thakur, R. Parinita Rathia
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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