Nutritional status among tribal women in Maharashtra, India: Spatial variations and determinants

Background: Tribals are intrinsically isolated and socially disadvantage groups currently living in India. Health parameters like nutritional deficiency leads them to several health consequences. Main objectives on which study is based, was to know prevalence and determinants of nutritional status among tribal women in Maharashtra. Data sources and methodology: Data of 3923 tribal women from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), was used. Bi-variate and Logistic regression was calculated using a statistical tools linked with nutritional status. A spatial tool (ArcGIS) was used to study spatial variation of BMI & Anaemia in Maharashtra. Results: The prevalence of underweight is lower among tribal women but more than half of the total women are anaemic, less than 6% of obesity among them in Maharashtra. In the spatial analysis, predominant results of any anaemia of tribal women were found in the Northwest districts of Maharashtra. The highest (2.5-4.6%) and the moderate percentage (1.5-2.5%) of severe anaemia, and obesity were found in almost all the districts located in western Maharashtra, whereas the prevalence of high (48-62%) and moderate (35-48%) underweight was found dispersedly throughout Maharashtra. Conclusion: Tribal community in India is most susceptible in terms of social, health and education development. The government needs to focus on regional and community-based development approach for overall health improvement among tribal women in Maharashtra. These results may help policymakers to prepare apt strategies for the overall development of health among the people in general and tribal women in particular.