ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS AFFECTING NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ICDS
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Date
2017-10-12
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UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES GKVK, BENGALURU
Abstract
Supplementary nutrition programme was initiated in Government run anganwadis for
bridging the energy gap of preschool children. Despite this enrolment of children in
private pre-schools is on the rise in rural Karnataka. Therefore, a study to assess factors
affecting nutritional status of preschool (n=100) in both these groups was conducted.
Nutritional status, health status, sanitary and hygiene conditions, KAP of hygiene food
safety measures was assessed. Four preschool centres located in Kadajji village of
Davangere district comprising children; fifty each from ICDS anganwadi (n = 2) and
private preschool centres (n = 2) were recruited. Prevalence of under nutrition among
children was 40-46 per cent. Overall, 10-28 percent of the children were stunted, 24-26
per cent of them were wasted and 4-10 per cent were moderately malnourished. Majority
of the children had adequate intakes for protein and calories. Consumption of quality
foods, such as milk, animal foods, and fruits was less frequent. Majority of children did
not exhibit frank deficiency symptoms. Hygiene standards were poor at home, school and
personal level. Two major factors influencing nutritional status of preschool children
was, deficient in intake of fruits and vegetables and poor environmental hygiene.
Therefore, nutritional education programmes focusing on importance of eating fruits and
vegetables can be advocated and improvement in environmental hygiene is
recommended.
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