Nutritional Status and Key Factors Among Vagrants at Government Shelter Home Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract Backgrounds: Nutritional status and others related determinants among vagrants areimportantissuesevenindevelopingcountrieslikeBangladesh. Aim:Exploring the current situation it terms of magnitude of people would be a good resource for the policy makers in considering the malnutrition, health care and other supports for the shelter less population. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was done. A total of 106 vagabonds form government shelter home were included. The nutritional statuses of the respondents were assessed using measured BMI and dietary pattern was assessed by the 24-hour recall method. The data were processed to undergo statistical analysis using SPSS 23 windows program. Results: The overall mean age of of the respondents 35.3±9.86 years and 42(39.7%) were in 18-20 years age group and 62% were female. About 62% were correcntly married and 22% were single life lead. Less than half (47.1%) of the respondents non-educated, on the other hand 40(37.7%) of the respondents were primary level educated. 22.6% vagrants were abandoned by their family due to certain problems.Association of age group with BMI mostrespondents were in underweight that gain highly significance where (p=0.0001), there hadno association was found between educational status and BMI except non-educated (p=0.025). Most respondents were significant Hand washing before eating,daily bath taken and Suffering from disease Last 1 month with nutritional status where (p=0.020), (p=0.010) and (p=0.0001) Conclusion: Special attention to be given for improving vagabonds care, Attention to improve service quality with special attention to identified areas (balanced diet, treatmentetc.).