Nutritional assessment of women in the reproductive age group (15-49 years) from a rural area, Kolar, Kerala, India

Abstract

Background: Adults in India are affected by dual burden of malnutrition such as over nutrition and under nutrition.  Literature suggests that only 52% of women and 57% of men are at a normal weight for their height. Objectives: To estimate the nutritional status of women in the reproductive age group in rural Kolar and to estimate various socio-demographic factors associated with the nutritional status of women.Methods: Community based Cross-sectional study was conducted in rural field practice areas of Medical College for 6 months.  180 women in the reproductive age group of 15-49 years residing at Devarayasamudra village were included. Statistical methods: Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression were used as test of significance.Results: It was observed that out of 180 women, 49 (27.2%) of the women were overweight and 26 (14.4%) women were underweight. 36.67% women had a waist hip ratio of more than 0.85. Multivariate logistic regression showed that Age and educational status were independent risk factors for increased Waist Hip Ratio among women in reproductive age group.Conclusions: Higher prevalence of overweight and abdominal obesity was observed among women of reproductive age group in rural area.  Hence measures to improve the nutritional status of women in rural areas need to be addressed.