Mid-upper Arm Circumference Based Undernutrition among Bengalee Children of Chapra, West Bengal, India

OBJECTIVE To investigate age and sex variations in undernutrition using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) cut-off values among 2016 (930 boys and 1086 girls). 3-5 years old rural children of Bengalee ethnicity at 66 Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Centers of Nadia District, West Bengal, India. METHODS In a cross sectional study in west Bengal of India, MUAC was measured using standard technique. A total of 2028 children (935 boys and 1093 girls) from 66 ICDS centers were enrolled in this study. The response rate was approximately 95%. FINDINGS Mean MUAC among boys was higher than girls at all ages except 5 years. Significant sex differences were not observed over ages. The age-combined rates of overall (moderate and severe) undernutrition among boys (38.49%) was higher than among girls (32.22%).The age-combined rates of moderate undernutrition were 36.34% and 31.03% among boys and girls, respectively. The rates of severe undernutrition were 2.15% and 1.20% among boys and girls, respectively. There were sex differences in both moderate and severe undernutrition. In general, there was an increasing trend in the rates of overall undernutrition from 3 to 5 years in both sexes. CONCLUSION These children were experiencing severe nutritional stress.