DIETARY DIVERSITY IN RELATION TO NUTRIENT ADEQUACY AND ANTHROPOMETRIC STATUS OF RURAL PRE SCHOOL CHILDREN
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Date
2011
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
A sample of 120 preschool children in the age group of 3 to 6years were selected from farming families of two villages namely Lalton Kalan and Mullanpur of Ludhiana district. The subjects were categorized into three groups based on the size of landholdings i.e. GI- small farmers (1-2 hectares), GII- semi-medium (2-4 hectares) and GIII- medium farmers (4-10 hectares). The daily mean intake of cereals, green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, fruits, milk and milk products, sugars was inadequate in the age group of 3-4 years. In 4-6 years age group, the daily mean intake of cereals, pulses, roots and tubers, fruits, milk and milk products and sugars was inadequate while other vegetables and fats and oils were marginally adequate. Green leafy vegetables were inadequate in 5-6 years. No significant difference among food intake between three groups except in the consumption of milk and milk products which was significantly (p<0.05) high in GII and GIII and low in GI. On the whole, energy, niacin and calcium intake was inadequate among the subjects. Vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and folate intake was adequate, while energy and calcium intake was marginally adequate in 3-4 years age group. The vitamin B12, vitamin A and vitamin B3 intake was marginally inadequate. In 4-5 and 5-6 years old preschool children, the iron was found to be marginally adequate. The consumption of iron was significantly (p<0.05) lower in GI than GII and GIII while the daily intake of vitamin B2 was significantly (p<0.05) higher in GIII than GI and GII. Mean adequacy ratio (MAR) was significantly (p<0.05) lower in children belonging to families of small farmers in comparison to those of semi-medium farmers. The mean Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) of children in GI, GII and GIII was 8.60, 8.84 and 8.80 indicating that the diets become more diverse as the size of land holdings increased. A significantly (p<0.05) lower Food Variety Score (FVS) was observed in GI group when compared to GIII group. Height for Age (HAZ) Z-scores showed moderate stunting in 19.2% of children and severe stunting was in 12.5%. According to Weight for Age (WAZ) Z-scores, 35.8% children were normal, 26.7% were moderately undernourished and 24.2% were severely undernourished. The Z score of Weight for Height (WHZ) data showed that 35% of children were normal, 23.3% were moderately energy deficient and 24.17% were severely energy deficient. The statistical analysis revealed that carbohydrates, calcium and vitamin A were significantly (p<0.01) correlated with DDS and FVS, therefore, can be used as indicators for assessing malnutrition among preschool children Among the Z scores, it was only HAZ which was significantly (p<0.01) correlated with MAR% indicating that nutrient intake has an impact on height of the children.
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