A comparative study of the current nutritional and health status of male and female Lodha tribal people in Bankura district, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Background: The 2001 Census revealed that 5.5% of the state’s population comprises scheduled tribes (ST), including the primitive Lodha tribe, found in densely forested regions. The harshest consequences of poverty, which still affect millions of tribal households in India, are chronic hunger and undernutrition. This study assesses the health and nutritional status of the male and female members of the Lodha tribe. Method: A total of 600 Lodha tribal individuals, including 300 male and female tribal women, were randomly selected from ten villages in Bankura. Their socioeconomic status, nutritional status, and anthropometric measurements were recorded. Results: The female Lodha tribe had a significantly higher prevalence of chronic energy deficiency (CED) at 83% compared to their male counterparts (59.7%). This study indicated that the overweight and obese category of CED had a greater impact on the male Lodha tribal community. The study highlights the negative effects of obesity in tribal families, revealing insignificantly lower physiological markers in females in the Lodha tribe. Similarly, no significant difference in morbidity patterns was noted among them. Discussion: The rate of undernutrition indicated a bad situation based on the WHO classification of CED. The Lodha tribal community suffers from a variety of nutritional inadequacies, including low labor capability, undernutrition, and shortages in energy, protein, and fat, especially among females. Conclusion: Therefore, effective nutritional intervention programs must be initiated to alleviate nutritional stress within this ethnic group.