Sociodemographic Profile, Reproductive Health and Nutritional Status Among the Juangs—A Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group of Odisha, India

Abstract

The present study is an endeavor to understand the sociodemographic profile, reproductive health, and nutritional status of the Juangs, a particularly vulnerable tribal population of Odisha, India. A total of 435 adult males and 515 adult females (≥18 years) were considered from 15 villages under two blocks of Keonjhar district of Odisha, India. A pre-structured schedule was used to collect data on the sociodemographic profile and reproductive health. Heights and weights were recorded using the standard protocol. Statistically significant ( p < 0.05) sex difference was found with respect to age, educational status, and occupational status between the males and the females. The present study reveals that the mean reproductive wastage was found to be 0.55. The maternal and child health care services unveil that only 29.9 percent of the women have taken iron and folic acid (IFA) tablets and 23.1 percent have taken at least one tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccine. Maximum percentage of women (75.9%) were assisted by elderly women during delivery, and only 35.1 percent adopted the sterilization method for fertility regulation. Among the mothers, 60.6 percent initiated breastfeeding on the third day, 55.9 percent breastfed their babies for a period of 2 years, and 66.2 percent mothers immunized their children with at least one vaccine. A significant sex difference of mean body mass index (BMI) ( t – 5.68; p < 0.001) was observed between the Juang males and females. The study reflects that the extents of undernutrition among the males (57.5%) and the females (62.9%) were very high, which indicates that the Juangs are under serious nutritional stress. Hence, immediate appropriate nutritional intervention programs are needed for implementation.