Author(s):

Priyanka Rani and Veenu Sangwan

Abstract: School children are the most important asset of the country and improving their nutritional status is the best investment in development of the country. Food and nutritional inadequacy is main cause of poor physical growth and mental development of school children that is reflected as low school enrollment, high absenteeism and poor academic performance. The present study was conducted on hundred rural school children of Fatehabad district, Haryana. Nutrient intake of children was assessed using dietary survey 24hr recall method and clinical assessment was done to identify the signs and symptoms of various types of nutrient deficiency in children. The intake of energy, protein, fat, calcium, iron, β-carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C, folic acid and vitamin B₁₂ by children were significantly lower than RDA (25.30 to 85.00%). Clinical examination revealed lack of lustre in hair 16 per cent children while pale conjunctiva, diffused pigmentation, angular scars, cheilosis of lips, scarlet and raw tongue, magenta tongue, mottled enamel, dental caries, spongy and bleeding gums, xerosis in the skin and follicular hyperkertosis was observed among 19.0, 13.0, 4.0, 13.0, 7.0, 4.0, 13.0, 11.0, 6.0, 4.0 and 2.0 per cent of school going children, respectively. The findings of this study conclude that there is continuous need of creating awareness on importance of adequate intake of nutrients among school children which would help to improve health and nutritional status of school children.

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