The world faces a problem of malnutrition especially in poor areas and areas with low literacy. Malnutrition among children under 5 years of age is a major problem worldwide (Brown, 2011). Undernutrition is responsible for nearly half of all deaths among children in the world. It is estimated that malnutrition results in loss of about three million young lives per year, globally (WHO, 2009). Undernutrition affects the physical as well as mental growth, increases the risk and severity of various infections, delays recovery and increases the risk of dying from diseases (UNICEF, 2018). are higher in developing countries as compared to developed countries. Stunting, that is too short height as per the age of child, is considered to be one of the most common problems among children under 5 years which is responsible for irreversible physical and cognitive damage and increases the children mortality and morbidity rates (Menon, Headey, Avula & Nguyen, 2017). One of the countries that faces the problem of stunting among its population is India (Pellertier, Frogillo, Schroeller & Habicht, 2005). The most notorious community for stunted growth in India is Madhya Pradesh’s Baiga tribe. The tribe concentrates mainly on agricultural economic activities thus has most of its population less literate (Rengalakshami, 2013).
This project concentrates on stunting growth in the Baiga community. The Baiga community also known as Baigachak is one of the most primitive communities in India’s Madhya Pradesh area (De & Blossner, 2013). The community faces the problems of illiteracy and a stagnant population. The nutritional status of this community is studied in detail in this project (Alderman, Hodinnot & Kinsey, 2006). Twenty villages are chosen from this community from which thirty households are chosen for the study.
Brown (2011) states that stunting growth is a reduced rate of growing in human beings’ development which is primarily as a result of undernutrition. The height of the person is small as compared to their age. The highest percentage of the world’s stunted children at 90% live in Asia and Africa. In countries such as India poor sanitation lead to the highest number of stunted growth cases. The victims of stunted growth may never regain the lost height due to the condition (Brown, 2011).
A report done by Tapas Chakma on the Baiga community’s stunted growth indicates that there is high levels of malnutrition in the community which is due to the inadequate dietary intake, faulty feeding habits, low purchasing power and the poor socio-economic position in the community. The study discovered that the level of ceral consumption in the community was higher than required. The cereals had inadequate iron proteins and calories. The study suggests that measures such as the food security improvement and improvement of government and non-government institution’s supplementary feeding programmes should be done in the community on order to ensure the menace is curbed (Chakma, Rao & Meshram, 2013).
The early age of life from 0-5 years is an important period of physical and cognitive development of child which later on improves the quality of life. This quality can be made better by improving the nutritional status (Srivastava, Mahmood, Shrotriya, Kumar & Srivastava, 2012). Malnutrition is defined as a condition which results either by consuming too much nutrients or by taking a diet which do not contains enough nutrients as per the need of body for normal growth. The main indicators of malnutrition are stunting, overweight and wasting (UNICEF,2018).
Stunting is sign of poor nutrition and the rates are highest in India with more than one- third of stunted children of age 0-65 months (World Bank, 2009). Stunting occurs during 0-23 months of life and continues to the age of 5 years. It is anticipated that approximately 70% of stunting occurs during first 2 years of childhood (Akombi, Agho, Merom, Hall, Burt & Renzaho,2017). According to Srivastava,2012, statistically, a child with z- score <-2.00 is identified as stunted while a child is said to be severely stunted with z-score <-3.00. Stunting results in various short term or long term consequences such as low motor performance, impaired physical growth, weak immune system, high death rate, impaired academic performance and reduces the productivity in later life (Menon, Headey, Avula & Nguyen, 2017). Stunting can be measured by anthropometric examination and growth assessment (Srivastava, Mahmood, Kumar & Shrotriya,2012).
A study done by Waterlow on West Bengal’s nutritional status showed that the prevalence of stunting was 22.7%, underweight 49.6% and wasting 1.7%. it was discovered that stunting, overweight and wasting is more dominant in pre-school children as compared to school going children. The preference was higher in boys as compared to girls. The study concluded that the nutritional status in the Indian
region of West Bengal was life-threatening and relevant authorities should take measures to avert the situation (Waterlow, 2012).
According to WHO a research done on the SEA region on stunted growth compared to the global average of 26% shows that the countries of India, Nepal, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Timor-Leste have a stunted growth percentage larger than both the global and the regional averages (WHO, 2013).
The prevalence of undernutrition is tending to increase more in the developing or low income nations like India because of lack of attention by government, parents and several other factors which results in stunted children (Dewey& Begum, 2011). According to Tiwari, Ausman & Agho (2014) stunting among children under 5 is a major cause of increased burden of disorders worldwide with 80% of the burden in developing countries. In India, the prevalence rates of undernutrition are higher in tribal communities because of their dietary habits and false myths (Chakma, Meshram, Rao, Singh & Kavishwar, 2009). According to statistics given by United Nation Children’s Fund, stunting is a major problem in Nigeria with a prevalence rate of 36% (Akombi, Agho, Merom, Hall, Burt & Renzaho, 2017). Similarly, according to Islam, Mahfuz, Sanin, Ahmed and Mondal, 2018, around 50% of children living in urban slum areas of Dhaka are found to be stunted. Similarly stunting is still a serious menace for Nepal also where 41% of children under 5 are stunted (Tiwari, Ausman & Agho, 2014).
In conclusion the eight articles reviewed show that there are a number of common factors that leads to stunting among childhood such as economical condition of family, age, gender, religion, region, type of family (joint or nuclear), dietary habits of family, education of parents and parental support (Srivastava, Mahmood, Kumar & Shrotriya,2012). The other factors that are responsible for stunted growth in children living in the tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh are needed to be known. The articles suggest that families must put absolute consideration on their nutritional habit and ensure that they are acceptable. Good sanitation habits must be upheld at all times in order to avoid stunted growth cases.
References
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Akombi, B.J., Agho, K.E., Hall, J.J., Merom. D., Astell- Burt, T., Renzaho, A.M.N. (2017). Stunting and severe stunting among children under-5 years in Nigeria: A multilevel analysis. BMC Paediatrics. Doi: 10.1186/s12887-016-0770-z.
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