Ethnotribal Growth Differences among Schoolchildren in a Northwestern Maharashtra District: An Analytical...

In Ashram schools, scheduled tribes (ST) children from age 6 to 17 years belonging to various ethnic groups stay under common living and dietary provisions. However, there are scant reports on ethnotribal height differences.

The aims of the study are to (a) estimate height differences between schoolchildren of three major local STs, (b) compare heights and average skinfold thickness (SFT) of ST with non-ST and urban schoolchildren, and (c) compare median heights and weights of ST and non-ST schoolchildren with the Indian Academy of Pediatrics standards.

Four Ashram schools and one urban school in Northwest Maharashtra.

All children from age 6 to 17 years were included for height, weight, and mid-arm circumference (n = 2106). Data were processed with Excel and Epi info software for quantitative comparisons.

Quantitative methods including ANOVA were used for statistical comparison of heights.

There were no differences among heights between ST students (ANOVA P > 0.05). However, there were significant differences between heights of boys and girls between ST and non-ST students across age groups (ANOVA P < 0.0001). ST boys and girls were mostly below 3^rd or 10^th percentile of IAP height and weight charts while non-ST children were between 25^th and 50^th percentiles. The average SFT values for prepubertal age groups were significantly lower in ST schoolchildren.

ST students showed a significant growth disadvantage against general and other backward classes categories, although no intertribal anthropometry differences were observed.