AbstractIntroduction: The wide spread poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition non-availability of safe drinking water, unhygienic living conditions, poor maternal and child health services have been reported in several studies as the possible contributing factors for dismal health conditions prevailing among the tribal communities in India. Methodology: In order to fulfill the chief objectives of the study the information on health and nutritional status of the tribal children, such as socio-demographic and child rearing conditions, anthropometric measurements, clinical examination, morbidity pattern and dietary intake are collected and described the methods followed in the present study. Children were classified based on age group i.e. 1-<2 years, 2-<3 years, 3-<4 years, 4-<5 years and 5-<5.5 years. Results: High Prevalence of Undernutrition in terms of underweight (62.1%), stunting (62% )and wasting (38.1%) was observed among tribals than non tribals. P Value is significant. Prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was found similar in both the sexes. Conclusion: Mean mid upper arm circumference among different age group is higher in non tribal children which indicates good muscle mass in non tribal children than tribal children.
Keywords: MUAC; BMI; Malnutrition.