INFLUENCE OF PARENTAL OCCUPATION ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS OF OTHER BACKWARD CLASS (OBCs), SAGAR DISTRICT, MADHYA PRADESH

Ms. Rajul Raikwar and Dr. K.K.N. Sharma

Abstract

The cross-sectional study was carried out on purposively selected 600 high school going girls of Other Backward Class (OBC) of Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire used for collection of information regarding the socio-economic status and anthropometric measurements were taken for the assessment of nutritional status. It was found that the majority of the population belongs to the low socio-economic profile and a maximum of them was engaged in low daily wages occupation like Labours, Farmers etc. Nearly one-third of girls (25%) were observed as malnourished. Out of them 4% girls were found as severely undernourished. The anthropometric measurement shows a statistically positive association between family socio-economic-status and parental occupation (p<0.01). The studied Other Backward Class (OBC) adolescent girls were found backward in terms of socio-economical status, health and nutritional status especially those whose parental occupation is low are chronically malnourished.
Keywords: Health and Nutrition, Parental Occupation and Adolescence.