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Diet and nutritional status of rural preschool children in Punjab
A Laxmaiah1, K Mallikharjuna Rao, G N V Brahmam
1Division of Community Studies, National Institute of Nutrition (Indian Council of Medical Research), Jamai-Osmania, Hyderabad 500 007, India. avulalaxman@yahoo.com
Insights
Rural Punjabi preschool children exhibit inadequate nutrient intake, with over half being undernourished and 60% stunted. Despite economic growth, dietary deficiencies persist, highlighting a critical public health concern for child nutrition.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Preschool children in rural Punjab face potential nutritional challenges.
- Assessing diet and nutritional status is crucial for child development.
- Understanding regional disparities in child nutrition is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diet and nutritional profile of rural preschool children in Punjab.
- To identify specific nutrient deficiencies and anthropometric status.
- To compare findings with national data.
Main Methods:
- A multistage random sampling method was employed.
- Data collected from 400 households per district, including socio-economic, demographic, anthropometric, and clinical information.
- Dietary intake assessed using the 24-hour recall method in every fourth household.
Main Results:
- Preschool children consumed lower-than-recommended amounts of macro and micronutrient-rich foods.
- Mean intake of most nutrients, except protein, calcium, and thiamine, was below recommended levels.
- High prevalence of undernutrition (50.3%), stunting (60%), and wasting (12%) was observed, though lower than national averages.
Conclusions:
- Despite economic growth, preschool children's diets in Punjab are inadequate in energy, fat, and key micronutrients.
- High rates of undernutrition and stunting persist among preschool children.
- Significant district-level variations in severe stunting necessitate targeted interventions.
Objective:
To assess diet and nutritional profile of rural preschool children of Punjab.
Study Design:
Multistage random sampling method was adopted by following probability proportion to population size (PPS).
Subject:
Four hundred households (HH) were covered in each district of Punjab for socio-economic and demographic information. All the available individuals from these HHs were included for anthropometry and clinical examination. Every fourth household was covered for 24-hour recall method of diet survey (individual dietary intake).
Results:
At the state level, the intake of macro and micronutrient rich foods such as cereals, pulses and green leafy vegetables, milk and milk products and fats and oils were lower than the RDI among preschool children. Except for protein, calcium and thiamine, the mean intake of all the nutrients was lower than the recommended level. About a half of the preschool children (50.3%) were undernourished (> 2SD weight for age); 60% were stunted (> 2SD height for age) and 12% were wasted (> 2SD weight for height). The extent of undernutrition and stunting was lower than that reported for the country. There was significant variation in the prevalence of severe stunting between the districts (p < 0.001), with the highest being observed in the Rupnagar (55%) and the lowest in Hoshiarpur and Sangrur (30% each).
Conclusion:
Despite, the reported high rates of economic growth and food production in the state, a higher proportion of preschool children were consuming diets, which are inadequate with respect to energy, fat, iron, riboflavin, vitamin A and vitamin C. The prevalence of undernutrition was high as was found in other states.
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