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Background: Malnutrition is still a great barrier to the growth and development of children, especially in India. Children from the underprivileged sections of the society like slum children are more vulnerable to both undernutrition and overnutrition. This study aimed to estimate the magnitude of malnutrition among school-going children in a slum area of Kolkata and to elicit the association of nutritional status with parental education. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted from November 2017 to May 2018 among 508 school-going children of 6 years to 19 years of age in slums of Chetla, Kolkata. Out of three coeducation high schools catering to those children, two schools were randomly selected. 254 participants from each school were selected using systematic random sampling. Students, unwilling to participate and/or whose parents denied providing informed written consent were excluded. After the interview by a predesigned, pretested schedule, their anthropometric examination was conducted. Results: Prevalence of stunting and severe stunting was present in 9.4% and 1.2% of subjects whereas the prevalence of thinness was 23.6% among them. The prevalence of overnutrition was 11%. Boys are more stunted (OR = 2.13, P = 0.013) and thin (OR = 1.73, P = 0.011) than girls. Poor parental education was significantly associated with both undernourishment (stunting and thinness) as well as overweight and obesity. Conclusion: Substantial burden of double malnutrition was observed among school-going slum children. Parental education had an important role to prevent malnutrition of their children. Thus, periodic growth monitoring with the strengthening of the Mid-Day Meal program and awareness generation campaigns regarding malnutrition among parents of slum children are highly needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dietary preferences and childhood eating behavior has marked influence on nutritional status of children. The objective of the study was to find out eating behavior of primary school children in a rural area of West Bengal using Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire and to determine association of body mass index (BMI) with eating behavior. Methodology: It was an institution-based observational study with cross-sectional design done from May to August, 2018. The study was done among 142 children studying at four primary schools at Singur, in the rural field practice area of our institute. The four schools were selected randomly using list of primary schools in the area. Eating behavior of children was assessed using Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ). BMI of the children was assessed using WHO Z scores tables for children. Data analysis was done using SPSS Version 16 and binary logistic regression was done to find out association of BMI with eating behavior of study participants. Results: The proportion of under-nutrition and overnutrition was 22.0% and 16.0%, respectively. Food fussiness was significantly associated with thinness [BMI below (−2SD)]. Enjoyment of food, satiety response was significantly associated with overnutrition [BMI above (+1 SD)]. Food avoidance subscale was significantly associated with thinness [OR: 2.5, CI: 1.11, 5.63] and this subscale was protective for overweight [OR: 0.22, CI: 0.07, 0.69]. Conclusion: This study showed association of BMI with child eating behavior. Therefore, awareness among parents should be created to change problematic eating of their children which would further help them to achieve normal BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: "Frailty" is a multidimensional geriatric syndrome that increases the risk for adverse health outcomes, such as falls, hospitalization, increased morbidity, and mortality, among elderly persons. Aim: The objective of this study is to find out the proportion of frailty and its associates among elderly (aged ≥60 years) in a rural area of West Bengal. Settings and Design: It is a community-based cross-sectional observational study done during May–August 2018 among 165 elderly persons selected by systematic random sampling by probability proportionate to size method from three villages at the rural field practice area of our institute. Materials and Methods: Tilburg frailty indicator is used to measure frailty. An elderly is considered as frail if s/he scores ≥6 in this scale. Statistical Analysis: Data analysis is done by SPSS Version 16. The logistic regression is done to find out the associates of frailty. Results: Proportion of frailty is 38.8% (mean age ± SD: 67.03 ± 3.43 years) among the study subjects. Age, female gender, loss of spouse, illiteracy, economic dependency, no job/at home status, ≥2 chronic diseases are significantly associated with frailty in univariate logistic regression. In multivariable logistic regression, ≥2 chronic diseases [AOR: 8.4, CI: 4.6, 11.33] and illiteracy [AOR: 3.3, CI: 1.05, 9.8] retain their significance. Conclusion: Frailty should be recognized as a public health priority and awareness generation among elderly population for healthy ageing including self-motivation for proper management of their ailments should be emphasized for reduction of morbidity as well as for augmenting their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]