0012
FACTORS AFFECTING THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF CHILDREN
OF NORTH-BENGAL RURAL REGION OF INDIA, BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF DRINKING
WATER AND A COMPARISON WITH DIARRHOEAL DISEASE Mridula Chatterjee*, A. K. Saha and R. K.
Samanta * Department of Pediatric Medicine, North
Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Darjeeling, India Expert Systems Laboratory, Dept. of
Computer Science & Applications, North Bengal University, Darjeeling,
India There
are many environmental factors affecting the growth performance amongst the
rural children in developing countries. Out of which, poor source of
drinking water is one of the most important factors, as this being
responsible for frequent episode of diarrhoeal disease (each attack of
diarrhoea causes loss of 1-2% body weight per day). In this study 72
drinking water samples were taken from various sources in North-Bengal (42
during post-monsoon and 30 during pre-monsoon) and bacteriological analysis
was done. A comparison is also made with incidence of diarrhoeal disease in
the same region. The result shows 64.29% of samples during post-monsoon and
90% of samples during pre-monsoon having foecal contamination, and thus not
suitable for drinking purpose. Further high incidence of diarrhoeal disease
corresponds with the high rate of contamination of drinking water) during
summer season.