DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i05.010

Pages: 1851-1857

Under nutrition in children is a major problem in developing countries like India. Mid day meal program is introduced in Government schools to combat under nutrition. This study is an attempt to assess the health and nutritional status of school children those participate mid day meal of school. This study was conducted in three government schools of Burdwan district in West Bengal state. The subjects of this study were chosen at random irrespective of socioeconomic status and religion so that reflection of an overall picture of health status of study region could be achieved. Body weight and height was measured. Body mass index (BMI) and Rohrer Index was calculated. These were compared with existing international standards for evaluation of nutritional and health status of the selected subjects This study was conducted on 430 school going children (boys-203 and girls-223). The overall prevalence of underweight was 40.23% (173), thinness 55.11% (237) and stunting was 19.76% (85). All the above under nutrition indices were higher in boys than girls counterpart. Overall 42.32% (182) children were under very low health status (Rohrer index > 1.12). It is concluded that there is a high prevalence of under nutrition among rural school children having age limit 5-9 years in Burdwan, West Bengal. Health education and nutrition interventions are needed on priority basis.