Mid­upper Arm Circumference Based Undernutrition among Bengalee Children of Chapra, West Bengal, India

Objective: To investigate age and sex variations in undernutrition using mid‐upper arm circumference (MUAC) cut‐off values among 2016 (930 boys and 1086 girls). 3‐5 years old rural children of Bengalee ethnicity at 66 Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Centers of Nadia District, West Bengal, India. Methods: In a cross sectional study in west Bengal of India, MUAC was measured using standard technique. A total of 2028 children (935 boys and 1093 girls) from 66 ICDS centers were enrolled in this study. The response rate was approximately 95%. Findings: Mean MUAC among boys was higher than girls at all ages except 5 years. Significant sex differences were not observed over ages. The age‐combined rates of overall (moderate and severe) undernutrition among boys (38.49%) was higher than among girls (32.22%).The age‐ combined rates of moderate undernutrition were 36.34% and 31.03% among boys and girls, respectively. The rates of severe undernutrition were 2.15% and 1.20% among boys and girls, respectively. There were sex differences in both moderate and severe undernutrition. In general, there was an increasing trend in the rates of overall undernutrition from 3 to 5 years in both sexes. Conclusion: These children were experiencing severe nutritional stress.