Nutritional Status of Mid Day Meal Programme Beneficiaries: A Cross sectional Study among Primary Schoolchildren in Kottayam District, Kerala, India
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Date
2017-08
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Indian J Public Health
Abstract
Background: The efficiency of Mid‑Day Meal (MDM) Programme in India to ensure the optimum nutritional status of its beneficiaries is
rarely studied. Objective: This study assessed the nutritional status of 6–10‑year‑old schoolchildren who were the beneficiaries of MDM
and the child‑related factors affecting their nutritional status. Methods: A cross‑sectional study was performed among 322 children from 12
randomly selected primary schools in one block panchayat of Kerala state. The background information was collected from children and their
parents, and anthropometric measurements of the children were observed. The prevalence of undernutrition was estimated using conventional
indices (stunting, underweight, and wasting) and composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF). Logistic regression analysis was used to
estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The prevalence of CIAF was 45.7% (95% CI: 40.3%–51.1%) and
that of stunting, underweight, and wasting were 13.4% (9.7%–17.1%), 38.8% (33.5%–44.1%), and 30.7% (25.7%–35.7%), respectively. The
prevalence of wasting (42.6% vs. 28.4%, P = 0.039) and severe underweight (20.4% vs. 7.1%, P = 0.002) was statistically significantly high
among occasional/never users compared to regular users of MDM Programme. Children born with <2.5 kg showed an OR of 1.76 (95% CI:
0.99–3.11) for being undernourished compared to children born with normal weight (≥2.5 kg) when adjusted for age, sex, birth order, and
illness in the past 2 weeks. Conclusion: This study showed a higher prevalence of undernutrition among school‑age children who were the
beneficiaries of MDM Programme, and this indicates the need for continuous nutritional interventions and surveillance among these children.
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Keywords
Composite index of anthropometric failure, Mid‑Day Meal Programme, nutritional status, primary schoolchildren
Citation
Jayalakshmi R, Jissa V T. Nutritional Status of Mid Day Meal Programme Beneficiaries: A Cross sectional Study among Primary Schoolchildren in Kottayam District, Kerala, India. Indian J Public Health. 2017;61:86-91