Diet and nutritional status of rural preschool children in Punjab.
OBJECTIVE
To assess diet and nutritional profile of rural preschool children of Punjab.


METHODS
Multistage random sampling method was adopted by following probability proportion to population size (PPS).


METHODS
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).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Laxmaiah
A
A
Division of Community Studies, National Institute of Nutrition (Indian Council of Medical Research), Jamai-Osmania, Hyderabad 500 007, India. avulalaxman@yahoo.com
Rao
K Mallikharjuna
KM
Brahmam
G N V
GN
Kumar
Sharad
S
Ravindranath
M
M
Kashinath
K
K
Radhaiah
G
G
Rao
D Hanumantha
DH
Vijayaraghavan
K
K
D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012424:Rural Population