Author(s): Dr. Swati Chande

Abstract:
World Health Organization (WHO) has defined adolescent as the age between 10 to 19 years. Health scenario of the population would remain incomplete if adolescent group is excluded. About 80% of the tribal in India live in remote forest areas and hilly regions, without an access to the modern socio economic inputs. Current status of tribal population as reported 2011 census is 8.6% of the nation total population, whereas the tribal population of Maharashtra is 8.6 million. Tribal population of Buldana District is 115,000(Revenue division TRTI, Pune) Buldana District falls under Amravati division. Several studies have reported low birth weight of infants from the various tribal area. Birth weight is considered to be one of the important and reliable parameters in the evaluation of foetal and neonatal wellbeing. Birth weight below 2.5 kg has been found to be closely associated with poor growth (George K.A. et al. 2003). Present study aims in studying the birth weight of babies from the tribal area of Buldhana district. Height and weight of babies were recorded. It was found that low birth weight prevailed among infants. Education and nutrition education can help in reducing the incidence of low birth weight.