Prevalence of Malnutrition among Adolescent Tribal Girls in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: About 104 million tribal people make up India's total population, and among them, 4.7 million tribal children suffer from malnutrition.

Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of malnutrition among adolescent tribal girls in India.

Materials and methods: We conducted this study from March 22, 2023, to April 4, 2023, using various databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and various websites, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. This study included only the articles published from 2013 to 2023 in the English language. We used Rayyan software to compile eligible studies. Two independent reviewers assessed the risk of bias in the included studies by using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool (JBI). This review used a random effect model to obtain the pooled prevalence of malnutrition among adolescent tribal girls. Database searches yielded a total of 17,608 studies, and this review included six of those that met the inclusion criteria. This review represents a total of 1964 participants.

Results: The result of this study found that the pooled prevalence of undernutrition in India was 18.04% (95% CI: 0.49-0.67), P = 0.001.

Conclusion: The study's findings indicate the need for more stringent interventions and policies to prevent malnutrition among adolescent tribal girls in India.

Keywords: Adolescent girls; India; malnutrition; prevalence.