Background: Santals are one of the largest tribal groups living in India. The tribes of India constitute approximately 8.6% of the total population of the country. Under nutrition among tribal children is a significant public health problem in India as well as West Bengal. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the overall nutritional status (stunting, underweight and wasting) among Santal preschool children of West Bengal, India.

Materials and Methods: The present community based cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of under nutrition using stunting, underweight and wasting among Santal preschool children(1-5 years) in both sexes of two districts (Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram) of West Bengal, India. A total of 311 (Boys = 152; Girls = 159) participants were studied. The sample was selected through stratified random sampling method. Anthropometric measurements were recorded according to standard procedures and <-2 z-scores of height for age(HAZ), weight for age (WAZ) and weight for height (WHZ) were used to evaluate stunting, underweight and wasting, respectively, following the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines.

Results: The present study showed that boys were significantly taller, age combined, than girls and also at age 2, 3 and 5 years (except at age 1 and 4 years). Boys were significantly heavier than girls at age combined as well as at all age groups. The age combined prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting were higher among boys (stunting = 52.0%, underweight = 26.3% and wasting = 15.8%) than girls (stunting = 44.0%, underweight = 20.8% and wasting = 10.7%). The overall age and sex combined prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting were 47.9%, 23.5% and 13.2%, respectively.

Conclusion: Under nutrition is a major health problem among these tribal preschool children. The present study among Santal children of West Bengal revealed poor nutritional status with a higher incidence of stunting indicating long term or chronic undernutrition. The primary way of prevention is the raising of the level of awareness and improvement of supplementary nutrition.