IJSR - International Journal of Scientific Research

Mahuya Majumder; Sarmistha Chakrabarti; Suniti Ghosh (chatterji)

Volume : VI, Issue : III, March - 2017

Nutritional awareness among street children in Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Mahuya Majumder, Sarmistha Chakrabarti, Suniti Ghosh Chatterji

Abstract :

Street children are considered to be a high risk group for nutrient deficiencies. The aim of this study was to investigate nutrition awareness of children aged from 3 to 18 years living in Kolkata metropolitan city and assessment of their hygiene practices. A cross sectional study was conducted on 540 street children aged from 3 to 18 years in different 10 zones in Kolkata. Health consciousness among them was very low (23.70%). Only 30% of them were found to be nutritionally aware. Reasons for such findings can be lack of awareness regarding infection problems, financial constraints to afford hygiene aids, timely health check up, substance abuse and also lack of nutrient healthy environment.