Maternal employment and nutritional status of preschool children
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Date
1998
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Department of Home Science, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara
Abstract
A study on "Maternal Employment and Nutritional Status of Preschool
Children" was carried out among 120 children in the age group of 4 to 5 years. They
were selected on the basis of maternal employment equally and randomly from the
three groups i.e., casual labourers (CL), employed mothers (EM) and unemployed
mothers (HW).
The results of the study indicated that Hindus were the majority in all the
three groups. Majority of the parents were literate with family income ranging
between Rs.2000 and Rs.8000. Most of the families in the EM and HW groups had
a joint existence. Majority of the families did not own land or livestock but owned a
kitchen garden.
Monthly expenditure pattern revealed that the greatest amount was spent
on foods in which cereals had the major share. Various contagious diseases were
more prevalent in the CL community. Social participation was low in all the three
groups with highest participation in EM group.
Frequency of use of different foodstuffs revealed that cereals, pulses, other
vegetables, milk and milk products, fats and oils, sugar and spices and condiments
were the most frequently used items in all the three groups.
Advance meal planning was highest in the EM group. In majority of the
families there was equality in food distribution.
Majority of mothers worked between 8 to 10 hours a day for more than 21
days per month. Financial constraint was the major reason for opting to work Most
of the working mothers were satisfied with their jobs.
There was a significant difference between the three groups with respect
to the time spent for household, child care and personal activities.
Majority of children had desirable birth weight with complete
immunisation status.
Nutritional status revealed that majority of the children were
malnourished as classified according to Gomez et al. (1956), Rao and Singh (1970)
and Waterlow (1972). Dietary profile revealed that the intake of all foods except
flesh foods was inadequate. Intake of proteins met RDA while intake of other
nutrients was inadequate. Clinical symptoms were found in all three groups. The
EM group scored highest in knowledge, attitude and practice test. The results
revealed that maternal employment had no positive or negative impact on the
nutritional status of the preschool children.
Description
PG
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Citation
171348