Effect of quality and quantity of diet on nutritional status of under-five children residing in the rural area: A longitudinal study.
J Family Med Prim Care
; 13(5): 2085-2091, 2024 May.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38948567
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Variety and adequacy of intake of food are required to meet the nutritional needs of the children. Due to poverty/illiteracy, poor families depend on a single food group that is, cereals. Due to the pandemic also, the nutrition of the growing children is affected.Objective:
To know the effect of quantity and quality of diet on the nutritional status of under-five children.Methodology:
This study had 270 children aged between 1 and 4 years registered at Anganwadi as study participants. Information on sociodemographic variables, quantity of calories and proteins consumed, quality of diet, and anthropometry of children was collected. Percentages and paired t-tests were used to find the difference between nutritional status and diet at different intervals, which was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05).Results:
In our study, we found that as the quantity and quality of diet improved nutritional status, especially weight for age, body mass index (BMI) for age Z score also improved. There was a significant difference between calories consumed at the baseline, 6 months and 1 year with P < 0.05. Protein intake was significant between baseline and six months with P < 0.005.Conclusion:
Our study found a high percentage of undernutrition and wasting in the under-five population when diet was not sufficient in quality and quantity. As the quality and quantity of diet improved nutritional status also improved.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
J Family Med Prim Care
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Country of publication: