Zinc and other micronutrient deficiencies, under nutrition and morbidities in school children of desert area of Rajasthan

Dr.  Madhu B. Singh; Dr. Ranjana Fotedar; Dr. Manjeet  Singh Chalga; Sh. Pankaj Kumar; Dr. Neetu Parihar

Volume : IV, Issue : VI, June - 2015

Zinc and other micronutrient deficiencies, under nutrition and morbidities in school children of desert area of Rajasthan

Dr. Madhu B. Singh, Dr. Ranjana Fotedar, Dr. Manjeet Singh Chalga, Sh. Pankaj Kumar, Dr. Neetu Parihar

Abstract :

Objective: Estimation of Zinc and other micronutrient deficiencies, under nutrition and morbidities Method: According to WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD, data collected from 465 school children of 6 to 11 years from fifteen schools of Jodhpur district. Results: Analysis of serum zinc revealed that 76.1 percent school children were normal whereas 23.9 percent were deficient, more in early age group i.e. 60.1 percent in 6 to 7 years than 11 years age group (12%). Hb estimation revealed that only 26.5 percent children were non anemic. Median urinary iodine value was 150 g/l. Proportion of school children less than 100 g/l were 25.6 percent. 69 percent children consumed salt adequately iodized i.e. 15 ppm or more. Stunting (17.4%), Underweight (24.9%) and Wasting (8.4%) were also observed. The prevalence of these morbidities were 2.2, 1.2, and 0.5 percent in zinc deficient children. Conclusion: Nutrition intervention program stressing dietary diversification should be organized to reduce micronutrient deficiencies