NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF WOMEN FROM RURAL AREAS: A COMMUNITY-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: In developing countries, malnutrition is most prevalent which effects poor nutrition for growth for physical and mental development. Developing country like India due to poor resources for the health and nutritional status of women of reproductive age aggravate by prevailing cultural and traditional practices. Other low resource also make unsafe for women to under-nutrition for social and biological reasons throughout their lifecycle. According to the report of world health it identifies top ten risks, globally and regionally, in terms of the burden of disease they cause. Globally leading ten risk factors are: alcohol consumption; tobacco consumption; high blood pressure; unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene; underweight; unsafe sex; iron deficiency; indoor smoke from solid fuels; high cholesterol; and obesity. Worldwide together these may caused more than one-third of all deaths. Poor nutrition indicates greater health risk to both women and child born to them. In India over nutrition and under nutrition status are both simultaneous occur in women depending upon their status are suffering from a dual burden of malnutrition.

Aim: The main objective of this study is to know the nutritional status of the women rural areas with their sociodemographic factors.

Material and methods: Samples of 250 women population from that rural area were included with different age groups were selected by simple random sampling. In total women population each women were interviewed and questionnaire was used at their households for the recorded data. General physical examinations as Weight, Height etc were recorded. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by using the formula weight/height.

Result: Total 250 populations of women were included in this study with the mean age 12.9 ±2.6 years. In which majority of age group was 21-25 years age group that is 34%.  In this study there was a majority of primary school education with 40.8% and followed by high school as 30.4%. In this study 70% were currently studying whereas 18% were housewife and 12% were doing domestic work. 22% were illiterate in which 8.5% were school dropouts. 45% were unmarried and 55% were married.  From 55% married women 8% were divorced.  According to socio-economic status 3(1.2%) belong to class I, 12 (4.8%) belonged to class II, 77 (30.8%) belonged to class III, 95 (38%) belonged to class IV, and 63(25.2%) belonged to class V. Mean height, weight, and BMI were less among the population aged between 15 to 30 years as compare to31 to 45 years.

Conclusion: Nutritional status of women in community was a major public health problem if not addressed strongly. Various factors effect on nutritional status and measures have to be taken to educate about the healthy nutrition and importance of physical activity among women. Therefore emphasis is given for nutrition and there is an urgent need to create awareness and implement interventions to improve the nutritional status as to improve the health of self and family. 

Keywords:  women, Rural, Nutrition status, Socio-economic status