• Dr. Nakul Seth
• SRI.DIPTIRANJAN SAHOO

Abstract Tribes are the most marginalized and underprivileged people in India. Nutritional status among Indian tribes has become a major health issue. In recent past, India has made a considerable progress in social and economic aspects but the improvement in nutritional status has been less impressive. Odisha harbours 22.8% of total tribal population in India. Information on prevalence of undernutrition among the tribes of Odisha is scanty. Under these circumstances, this paper attempts to examine the nutritional status of the Amanatya, Bhotra and Saora tribes of Nabarangpur district and Santal Tribes of Mayurbhanj District Odisha. 200 adult individuals from three hamlets of village Turunji, Nabarangpur district and 176 individuals from Changua, Badagobra and Talsa Village of Tiring Block Mayurbhanj District of Odisha were studied. Height and weight were recorded and the Body Mass Index was calculated using the standard protocol. Internationally accepted BMI guidelines were followed to access the nutritional status. The present study reveals a high percentage of Chronic Energy Deficiency(CED) or under nutrition among the Saoras (44.44% males and 33.33% females) and Amanatyas (50% of females) as compared to the Bhotras (7.6% males and 16.6 % of females). From the total individuals studied, 24% found to suffer from under nutrition. Among the Santals of Mayurbhanj 29.54% individuals (30.85% males and 28.04%) were underweight. This implies that these tribes are under serious nutritional stress. Gender difference in nutritional status is observed in all the groups. Several socio-economic factors, such as uncertainty of food supply, lack of adequate health care facilities and awareness, their belief system and cultural practice, less income were responsible for this higher prevalence of CED among these tribes. Thus, appropriate nutritional intervention programs by the government and non-government organisations touplift these tribal populations are imperative.

Keywords: Nutritional Status, Body Mass Index, CED, Undernutrition, Tribe, Odisha

"PREVALENCE OF UNDERNUTRITION AMONG TRIBES OF NABARANGPUR AND MAYURBHANJ DISTRICT OF ODISHA ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 11, page no.613-622, November-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1811177.pdf

"PREVALENCE OF UNDERNUTRITION AMONG TRIBES OF NABARANGPUR AND MAYURBHANJ DISTRICT OF ODISHA ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 11, page no. pp613-622, November-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1811177.pdf