Chronic energy deficiency and its association with dietary factors in adults of drought affected desert areas of Western Rajasthan, India.
OBJECTIVE
To asses the impact of drought on nutritional status of adults of a rural population in desert area.


METHODS
Threestage sampling technique.


METHODS
24 villages belonging to 6 tehsils (sub units of district) of Jodhpur district, a drought affected desert district of Western Rajasthan, in 2003.


METHODS
1540 adults were examined for their anthropometry, dietary intake and nutritional deficiency signs.


RESULTS
Overall chronic energy deficiency (CED) was found high (42.7 %). Severe CED was 10.7 percent, significantly higher in males than females. Regarding vitamin A deficiency, overall prevalence of Bitot spot and night blindness was 1.8 and 0.2 percent respectively, higher in females than males. Regarding vitamin B complex deficiency, angular stomatitis, cheliosis, and glossitis was 1.0, 2.6 and 5.4 percent. Anemia was 35.6 percent. Overall mean calorie and protein intake deficit was very high (38 and 16.4 %). The comparison of present drought results with earlier studies in desert normal and desert drought conditions showed higher deficiencies of calories and proteins in their diet.


CONCLUSIONS
Severity of malnutrition is critical as CED was more than the cut-off point of 40 percent stated by World Health Organization. Vitamin A and B complex deficiencies, anemia, protein calorie malnutrition along with deficit in calories and proteins in their diet were higher in comparison to non desert areas, which may be due to the harsh environmental conditions in desert areas. Efforts should be made to incorporate intervention measures to ensure the supply of adequate calories and proteins to all age groups.
Singh
Madhu B
MB
Desert Medicine Research Centre, Jodhpur, India. mbsgh@yahoo.com
Lakshminarayana
J
J
Fotedar
Ranjana
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001361:Avitaminosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003889:Desert Climate; D004190:Disasters; D055864:Droughts; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000172:deficiency; D008875:Middle Aged; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D018977:Micronutrients