Importance of periodic measurements in evaluating feeding programmes.
Attempts were made to show that periodic measurements are important for evaluating impact of feeding programmes as considerable "within variation" in increments exists which cannot be overlooked. From two socio-economic classes two kindergartens were selected one of which was implementing a feeding programme while the other was not. A total of 273 children were measured for weight and height, three times during the period of 7 months. Normal children showed significant gain in weight while malnourished children showed significant gain in height. The significance in weight (or height) increment at the end of the feeding programme did not necessarily mean that the significance could be obtained in each period even of equal time interval. Simple and cross correlations in increment revealed that weight increment in one period was significantly associated with height increment in the following period suggesting alternating priorities of the body for growth. Carefully planned longitudinal growth studies are therefore necessary for better understanding of growth process and thereby for proper evaluation of feeding programmes.
Rao
S
S
Department of Biometry & Nutrition, MACS Research Institute, Pune.
Joshi
S
S
D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D012923:Social Class