International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences

ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 2 Number 10 (2013) pp. 118-125

Health Care Facilities and Nutritional Status of Orphans Residing in Selected Orphanage in Capital City of Bangladesh

A.K.Obidul Huq1 *, Tanni Chowdhury2 , Provat Roy3 , K.M.Formuzul Haque4 and M.Bellal Hossain

1Department of Food Technology and Nutritional Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Santosh, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh 2Centre for Child and Adolescent Health (CCAH), International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) 3Medical Officer, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh 4Department of Public Health, Daffodil International University, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh 5Department of Nutrition and Food Engineering, Daffodil International University, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh

ABSTRACT

Present cross sectional study was carried out among the three orphanages namely Rayarbazar Rahamania Etimkhana, Sir Salimullah Muslim Etimkhana and Bawniabad Islamia Etimkhana of Dhaka city in Bangladesh during January to June 2013. A total number of 300 orphan children aged 6-12 years who were live on those orphanages for at least one year. The major objective of the study was to identify the health care facilities available in the orphanages as well as the individual s nutritional status which was largely depends on their food intake patterns. The boys and girls ratio was almost double (1.86). More than eighty five percent children had no parents and only 13.3% had the single parent. The major reasons for coming to live the orphanages were better education (50.7%) purposes. Nutritional status of the orphans was not satisfactory levels, about 12.0%, 14.3% and 6.3% of the orphans were severely underweight, stunted and wasted respectively. Different orphanages have the different menu planning, Rayerbazar Rahamania Etimkhana and Bawaniabad Islamia Etimkhana prepared menu for a week and Sir Salimullah Muslim Etimkhana was prepared for a month. The organization supplies meal thrice per day. But there is no opportunity to serve any mid time meal & light meal before sleeping. Only Sir Salimullah Muslim Etimkhana serves mid-time meal. The dietary patterns of the total orphans indicate milk and milk products are consumed only in as a special menu feast and occasionally taken some fruits.

Keywords

Orphan; Nutritional status; Health; Hygiene; Food intake pattern.