Dietary Habits Among Tribal Youth in the Gumla District of Jharkhand, India Chandra Samanta Research Scholar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences

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International Journal of Science, Engineering and Management (IJSEM) Vol 2, Issue 11, November 2017

Dietary habits among tribal youth in the Gumla district of Jharkhand, India Chandra Samanta Research Scholar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Abstract— A healthy dietary habit is indispensable for better nutritional status for the “youth span” (15-24 years of age group) of life due to innumerable physical changes. Physical changes along with adoption of poor dietary habits can make youth the nutritionally vulnerable group. And they become not only nutritionally vulnerable but also hard to reach population when we consider the tribal youth. Traditional foods are mainly regarded as the primary source of the regular diet of the tribal population irrespective of age. However, very less information is available regarding the dietary habit and nutritional status of the tribal youth. With an objective to assess the dietary habits in terms of dietary diversity and nutritional status of tribal youth, this cross‑ sectional study was conducted in Gumla district of Jharkhand, India. A total of 220 youths aged 15-24 years were selected to participate in the study. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, Dietary diversity, the primary source of consumed food and anthropometry. Statistical analysis has been performed using SPSS software (version 22). Starchy staples namely cereals consumption was universal and 97.7% youth consumed white tubers. In case of micronutrient-rich vegetable groups, only 15.5%, 67.3 % and 90.5% of youth consumed vitamin A rich, green leafy and other vegetables respectively. Although 91.8% of the study sample were non-vegetarian, considering the bodybuilding foods only 42.7% of youth consumed flesh foods and 18.6% consumed milk and milk products. This type of dietary consumption resulted in 20.5 % of the studied population as underweight. It is only 79.5 % youth of the study sample were found to have normal body mass index (≥18.5kg/m2). In general, dietary diversity and nutritional status of the tribal youth in the present study is not at the satisfactory level. The primary source of their consumed food is local foods. Tribal people preserve the knowledge of traditional food resources that exist within their area of residence and they mostly procure foods by harvesting or collecting through gathering, hunting procedure based on their traditional knowledge.

INTRODUCTION This study was conducted in Gumla district of Jharkhand which is having youth population of 181198 and this is 17.67 A healthy dietary habit is necessary for a good nutritional % of total population of Gumla (1025213). Gumla district is status in any phase of life. But it becomes indispensable home of a large number of tribal populations also. The when we consider the “youth span” of life. World Health population of the Schedule Tribes in Gumla district is 706754 Organization (WHO) defines „youth‟ as those in 15-24 years [9]. age group [1]. Physical changes necessitate the adoption of a healthy dietary habit during this period. Therefore, poor B. Study Design: A cross sectional study design was adopted dietary habits that fail to meet dietary requirements may put for this study. youth in nutritionally vulnerable group [2], [3]. Greater dietary diversity has always been associated with better C. Study Sample: This cross sectional study was conducted nutritional status [4], [5]. Dietary diversity is commonly used among representative youth of Gumla district over a period indicator for assessment of healthy dietary habits and also a of June 2017 to August 2017. The total sample size for the qualitative measure of food consumption [6]. Dietary current paper is 220 tribal youths of Gumla district which is a diversity is defined as the number of food groups consumed sub sample of the above mentioned cross sectional study. over a given reference period [7]. For the measurement of Respondents were selected by random technique for this dietary diversity, reference period usually ranges from one to cross sectional study. three days [8]. There is scarcity of information on dietary diversity and nutritional status of tribal youth. Thus, to have D. Tools and Techniques: Firstly, the purpose of the study information on dietary habit and nutritional status of the was explained and written informed consent was taken from tribal youth, the present study has been conducted. the respondents. Written informed consent was also taken from parent/guardian of respondents of less than 18 years. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, II. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dietary diversity, primary source of food and anthropometry namely height and weight. A. Study Setting: E. Analysis of Data: Data were analyzed with the help of SPSS software (version 22).

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International Journal of Science, Engineering and Management (IJSEM) Vol 2, Issue 11, November 2017

vegetables and fruits. In the study, starchy staples namely cereals consumption was universal and 97.7% youth consumed white tubers. In case of micronutrient rich III. RESULTS vegetable groups, only 15.5%, 67.3 % and 90.5% of youth consumed vitamin A rich, green leafy and other vegetables In the present study, majority of youth were belonging to the respectively. Although 91.8% of the study sample were non Oraon tribal group (77.3%) and number of female vegetarian but considering the body building foods only respondents (53.6%) were higher than male respondents 42.7% of youth consumed flesh foods and 18.6% consumed (46.4%). Distribution of respondents according to socio- milk and milk products. Table 2 reveals the frequency of demographic characteristics has been presented in Table 1. consumption of various food groups and along with primary source of the consumed foods. Table 1 Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents Table 2 Consumption percentage of food groups

Characteristics Number Percentage Food Groups Percentage of Primary source (%) consumption Gender Female 118 53.6 Type1 Type2 Type3 * * * Male 102 46.4 Cereals 100 75.5 24.5 - Age 15-17years 94 42.7 White roots and 97.7 67.0 33.0 - 18-24 years 126 57.3 tubers

Religion Hindu 190 86.4 Vitamin A rich 15.5 70.6 26.5 2.9 vegetables and Christian 30 13.6 tubers

Type of tribe Oraon 170 77.3 Green leafy 67.3 67.6 29.7 2.7 vegetables Others 50 22.7 Other vegetables 90.5 86.9 12.6 0.5 Education level Illiterate 5 2.3 (completed years Vitamin A rich 61.4 45.2 53.3 1.5 of schooling) Upto 5 years 8 3.6 fruits

Upto 10 years 128 58.2 Other fruits 59.1 57.7 35.4 6.9

Upto 12 years 48 21.8 Flesh foods 42.7 45.1 54.9

More than 12 Egg 24.2 88.9 9.2 1.9 31 14.1 years Milk and Milk 18.6 51.2 48.8 - Type of Family Nuclear 159 72.3 products

Joint 61 27.7 Pulses and nuts 86.8 46.1 52.9 1.0

Food practice Vegetarian 18 8.2 Note: *Type1: Own production or Gathering; Type 2: Purchased; Type3: Borrowed, exchanged for labor, gift from friends or relatives Non vegetarian 202 91.8

In the current study, 20.5% of the total study participants 2 Dietary diversity of the respondents was assessed to have a were underweight (BMI <18.5kg/m ). Among the glimpse on dietary habits of the respondents for a reference underweight participants, 68.9% were of 18-24 years age period of 3 days. Dietary diversity of youths was reflected by group and 31.1% were of 15-17 years age group. It has also the consumption pattern of energy yielding starchy staple been found that undernutrition is more among boys (26.5%) foods, body building flesh and milk products and protective

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International Journal of Science, Engineering and Management (IJSEM) Vol 2, Issue 11, November 2017 than girls. Distribution of participants according to nutritional adolescent school girls: an experience from rural area of status has been presented in Table 3. West Bengal. IOSR J Dental Med Sci, 14(2), 6-12.

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International Journal of Science, Engineering and Management (IJSEM) Vol 2, Issue 11, November 2017

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