Prevalence of nutritional deficiency disorders among rural primary school children (5-15 years)

The school as portal of personalised health care is an important concept. Significant number of school-age children are in need of adequate source of health care and nearly one-fifth of the population of every country comprised these children. Nutritional disorders account for the majority of morbidity, mortality and drop outs among them. One thousand and fifty primary school children (of both sexes) were studied from June to December, 1992. Prevalence of various nutritional disorders was 47.42%, anaemia and vitamin A deficiency were the commonest among them. Remedial measures followed by health education of pupil, teachers and parents, were the intervention measures adopted during and after the survey. Dietary modification, improvement of school sanitation and personal hygiene, strengthening school health services and awareness building, are the key strategies recommended.