Introduction Poor nutritional status of tribal children observed in different studies across the country calls for a need to introspect for various factors affecting it to seek remedial measures. Objectives: Study the nutritional status of preschool children and know the prevalence of malnutrition and associated socio-demographic factors. Methods Community based study was done in Jenukuruba tribes of Mysore district in the month of July-August 2011 among 220 children aged 1-5years. Sociodemographic information and anthropometric measurements were obtained by using standard techniques. Height and weight of each child was compared with WHO child growth standards-2006 reference data for that particular age and sex to get W/ A, H/A and W/H Indices and below 2SD of the reference median on any of these indices were considered as underweight, stunted and wasted respectively. Results Prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was 38.6%, 36.8% and 18.6% respectively which was statistically significant with respect to age and not significant with respect to sex, literacy status of mother, family type, SLI and Immunization status. Conclusion Poor nutritional status in this children calls for government and NGOs to take immediate steps in uplifting the socioeconomic standard of the tribal community.

Keywords: Jenukuruba; Underweight; Preschool children.