Menarcheal Age and Nutritional Status of Reproductive Mother of Gidhpuri Village of Chhattisgarh

 

Jitendra Kumar Premi

Sr. Assistant Professor, School of Studies in Anthropology,

Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur-492010 CG India

 

 

ABSTRACT:

The health and nutritional problem of the vast population of India are as varied as the tribal groups themselves who present a bewildering diversity and variety in their socio-economic, socio-cultural and ecological setting. The age of women between 10-19 years is considered as adolescence age or period. Adolescent girls are not physically prepared for child birth, since linear growth is not complete until age 18 and the birth canal does not reach mature until two to three year later. Objectives of the present study are;t o explore the menarcheal age of the tribal and other reproductive women of the Gidhpuri village and to access nutritional status of the tribal and other reproductive women of the Gidhpuri village. 50 pregnant and lactating women of different groups residing in Gidhpuri village- Savara, Binjhwar, Gond and other were randomly selected for collecting information. Anthropometry and interview schedule were used for collection of data. Mean age at menarche are 12.08 ±1.3 years in Savara women, followed by 13.2 ±1.5 years in Binjhwar women, 13.5 ±0.5 years in Gond women and 12.3 ±0.94 years in other women. Most of the women (82%) have good health because BMI rank is normal followed by 4% have over weight. weight and height of the respondents were increasing with their age but nutritional condition (BMI) showing odd pattern. In the light of above finding it is concluded that menarcheal age of the Savara, Bjinjhwar and Gond ethnic group are normal as compared other study , their nutritional status is found pleasing  which is not regulated by biological factor like age, weight and height but by their socio-economic conditions.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

The health and nutritional problem of the vast population of India are as varied as the tribal groups themselves who present a bewildering diversity and variety in their socio-economic, socio-cultural and ecological setting. The nutritional problem of different tribal communities located at various stages of development are full of obscurities and very little scientific information or dietary habits and nutrition status is available due to lack of systematic and comprehensive research investigations. Malnutrition is common and greatly affects the general physique of the tribes. Childhood malnutrition is a found to be a leading cause of mortality among children. Maternal malnutrition which is quite common among the tribal women is also a serious health problem, especially for those having many pregnancies, too closely spaced and reflected the complex social-economic factors that affect their overall situation.

 

The health of pregnant and lactating women is very important because it directly associated with the health of children. The health and nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women is assessed by Body Mass Index. Factors which were responsible for poor health status of women also discussed in this paper.

 

OBJECTIVES:

Objectives of the present study are;

1.       To explore the menarcheal age of the tribal and other reproductive women of the Gidhpuri village

2.       To access nutritional status of the tribal and other reproductive women of the Gidhpuri village

 

METHODOLOGY:

50 pregnant and lactating women of different groups residing in Gidhpuri village- Savara, Binjhwar, Gond tribes and other were randomly selected for collecting information. Anthropometry and interview schedule were used for collection of data. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a sensitive indicator of nutritional status as it takes into consideration both the height and weight of the individual explaining the occurrence of menstruation. Body Mass Index (Weight in Kg/height in meters squared) was calculated from the measures of height and weight of the ado scent girls. Based on the BMI values of the adolescent girls were categorized into six categories of nutritional status were CED grade III (BMI<16) Server malnutrition, CED grade II (BMI >16>17) moderate malnutrition, CED grade 1 (BMI >17<18.5) mild malnutrition, Normal (BMI 18.5 < 25), over weight (BMI 25-30) and obese (BMI>30).

 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

 

NUTRITIONAL STATUS

4% women who have been married at 14 years old, 2% women who have been married at 15 years old, 2% women who have been married at 16 years old and 4% women who have been married at 17 years old, 2% women who have been married at 19 years old they are all in belong into CED-I category. Most of the women (82%) have good health because BMI rank is normal followed by 4% have over weight (table no.1).

 

AGE AT MENARCHE   AND ADOLESCENT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

The age of women between 10-19 years is considered as adolescence age or period. Adolescent girls are not physically prepared for child birth, since linear growth is not complete until age 18 and the birth canal does not reach mature until two to three year later. Therefore, complications and also face greater likelihood of maternal or infant death than women in their six.

 

In the present study particularly in illiterate and poor families, boys were more valued than girls, due to discriminatory child care and nutrition, girls received less food and less nutrition’s food than boys leading to malnutrition and physical development.

 

The table no. 2 shows the age at menarche of women of Gidhdpuri village (Savara, Binjhwar, Gond, and Other). According to this mean age at menarche was found 12.8 years in Savara, 13.2 years in Binjhwar, 13.5 year Gond and 12.3 years other community and it is was observed that 50% girls arrived at puberty at early age of life cycle. Parents want to get them marry as soon as the girl attained puberty.

 

Table No. 1: BMI Classification according to CED

Marriage Age  yrs)	Sample Size	Grades
		<16 CED III	16.1-17CED-II	17.1-18.49 CED-I	18.5-24.99 Normal	25+ Over weight
13	1	-	-		1 (2%)	-
14	5	-	-	2 (4%)	3(6%)	-
15	17	-	-	1 (2%)	15(30%)	1(4%)
16	11	-	--	1 (2%)	9(18%)	1(4%)
17	6	-	-	2 (4%)	4(8%)	-
18	7	-	-		7(14%)	-
19	1	-	-	1 (2%)	-	-
20	1	-	-		1(2%)	-
26	1	-	-		1(2%)	-
	50	-	-	7 (14%)	41(82%)	2(4%)

 

 

Table no. 2: Distribution of Age at Menarche of Women under Study (Tribe wise)

 

 

According to table -3 mean age at menarche are 12.08 ±1.3 years in Savara women, followed by 13.2 ±1.5 years in Binjhwar women, 13.5 ±0.5 years in Gond women and 12.3 ±0.94 years in other women.

 

Table no. 3: Mean age at menarche

 

 

ANTHROPOMETRIC VARIABLES

According to table no.4 and chart no. 1, 2 and 3 the weight and height of the respondents were increasing with their age but nutritional condition (BMI) showing odd pattern. Therefore it is said that health status of the respondents are not depending on their age, height and weight but it is viewing enslavement on their own socio-economic circumstances.

 

 

 

Table no. 4: Distribution of mean, Standard deviation of anthropometric variables

Age Group	Weight		Height		BMI
	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	Mean	SD
13	40.00	1.00	143.2	1.00	21.9	1.00
14	46.38	8.69	147.2	6.57	20.1	3.06
15	46.11	3.51	147.7	3.29	21.34	4.44
16	48.81	6.87	148.9	8.54	21.20	2.43
17	48.41	2.66	151.2	5.26	19.40	1.42
18	49.74	4.32	153.5	6.98	21.07	1.05
19	49.00	1.00	160.2	1.00	17.05	1.00
20	52.00	1.00	167.1	1.00	20.7	1.00
26	48.00	1.00	168.2	1.00	22.2	1.00

 

 

 

CONCLUSION:

In the light of above finding it is concluded that menarcheal age of the Savara, Bjinjhwar and Gond ethnic group are normal as compared other study (Premi and Chandrakar , 2008) their nutritional status is found pleasing  which is not regulated by biological factor like age, weight and height but by their socio-economic conditions.

 

REFERENCE:

Premi, Jitendra Kumar and Ritu Chandrakar. 2008. Nutritional Status, Age at Menarche and Perception regarding Menstrual Taboos among the Adolescent Gond Girls of Chhattisgarh. In Bio-Social Issues in Health, ed. R. K. Pathak, A. K. Sinha, B.G. Benerjee, R. N. Vasishat and C.J. Edwin, 268-278. Northern Book Center: New Delhi.