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  • Title: Health and nutritional status of boys aged 6 to 12 years in a children observation home.
    Author: Chhabra P, Garg S, Sharma N, Bansal RD.
    Journal: Indian J Public Health; 1996; 40(4):126-9. PubMed ID: 9119431.
    Abstract:
    One hundred and ninety two boys in the age group 6 to 12 years, living in a Children Observation Home in Delhi were studied for their nutritional status and morbidity profile. Body Mass Index (BMI), an age-independent index was used to grade the nutritional status according to which, 36.7% of the boys were found to be malnourished. Signs of specific nutritional deficiencies were observed in 13.5% of the boys. Morbidity in some form or the other was present in 148 (60%) boys. Skin disease was the commonest morbidity (31.7%), followed by diseases of the oral cavity (16.1%), acute respiratory infections (8.6%) and diseases of the ear (9.9%). Need for health promotional activities is stressed to reduce the morbidity and improve the health status of these children. The government of India is responsible for caring for India's destitute children. Findings are reported from the July 1992 study of nutritional status and morbidity among 192 boys aged 6-12 years living in a Children Observation Home in North West Delhi. The facility is run by the state's Department of Social Welfare and is comprised of classrooms, a dining room, a kitchen, a medical care unit, and a playground. The children sleep in dormitories and each child is entitled to a balanced diet of cereals, pulses, and vegetables. Welfare officers and attendants are employed to care for the children. In reality, the facilities tend to be inadequate and unhygienic. Using body mass index (BMI) to grade the boys' nutritional status, 36.7% were found to be malnourished, 16.7% severely. Signs of specific nutritional deficiencies were seen in 13.5% and some type of morbidity was observed in 60%. Skin disease was the most common morbidity, with 31.7% afflicted, followed by diseases of the oral cavity (16.1%), acute respiratory infections (8.6%), and diseases of the ear (9.9%). Health promotion activities are needed to improve the health status of this population.
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