Nutritional and health profile among residential school children in rural areas of YSR Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, India

Background: Malnutrition is a significant problem in school going children all over the world particularly in developing countries. Factors related to the malnutrition may vary from region to region and part to part of the world. The main aim was to study the health status and nutritional problems among the school children residing in the residential schools. Methods: Cross sectional study conducted at residential schools around Kadapa among students (boys and girls) in age group 10 to 13 years.  Total 393 students were selected from four different schools and divided in to the two categories and three age groups study was conducted in one month (December 2011) with personal interviews of students in preformed questionnaire followed by general examination and laboratory tests. Results: 393 students were enrolled in the study 213 (54.2%) boys and 180 (45.8%) girls, 10-11 years 122 (31.04%), 11-12 years 132 (33.59%) and 12-13 years 139 (35.37%) participants were enrolled. Following morbidity conditions were observed among participants, URI 91 (23.16%), pediculosis 97 (24.68%), scabies 63 (16.03%), worms in stool 62 (15.78%), refractive errors 49 (12.47%), ear 17 (4.33%), dental carries 79 (20.10%), vitamin A deficiency 42 (10.69%), vitamin B deficiency 101 (25.7%), anemia 177 (45.04%) participants. Conclusions: Anemia is one of the leading causes of morbidity among the school going children with vitamin deficiency. Apart from that, conditions related with personal hygiene are also present like pediculosis, scabies and worm infestations. Respiratory tract infections are common and repeated attacks of respiratory infections are present among the participants.