Nutritional status of tribal preschool children based on clinical assessment in Paschimanchal, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Clinical examination is one of the methods used to determine the nutritional status of a person or diagnosis of various diseases. This method is an important feature of every nutritional survey. It is most practical and simplest method of measuring the nutritional situation or diagnosis of diseases a group of individual. With this method, it is possible to easily understand the nutritional status or physical condition of individuals by deep concentration and observation. It utilizes a lot of specific and non specific physical signs and symptoms that are known to be associated with malnutrition and nutrient deficiency or communicable and non communicable diseases. To conduct this study, data from 258 children aged 1-5 years were collected by a community based cross sectional survey study by pretested questionnaire. Data is collected through door to door survey in multi stage cluster sampling method. Their information is collected is collected subject to the permission of the parent and the age information is determined by the birth certificate or the issued card by primary health center. Clinical signs for difference nutritional deficiencies disease and various communicable or non communicable diseases were observed.