A Study of Health Status Profiles of Children of Welfare Hostels in Rural Health Centre, Tadikonda Area of Guntur District

Background: The welfare hostels facility for the children hailing from weaker sections of the society like scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and backward classes is an important social welfare measure in India since long time. Research question: What is the prevalence of morbidity among children residing in government welfare hostels?. Objective: To find out the morbidity pattern among hostel children by sex. Study design: cross sectional study. Setting: Govt. welfare hostels in Tadikonda area of Guntur district, Andhrapradesh. Participants: All the children of welfare hostels total of 222 (94 boys and 128 girls).Statistical analysis: Proportions, percentages and chi-square test. Results: The common prevalent morbid conditions found were dental problems (29.2%), skin disorders (22.9%), history of passing worms in stool (18%), ENT problems (17%), B-complex deficiency (4.5%), Vit. A deficiency (2.2%), the prevalence of Anaemia 47.7% respectively. A higher prevalence of ARI (40.9%) followed by GIT (15%) and prevalence of parental separation (17%) among boys.