A study has found that about 77 percent of children aged 6–23 months in India lack dietary diversity as recommended by WHO, with the prevalence of minimal dietary failure being highest in the central region of the country. The states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh reported the highest levels of inadequate diversity in children’s diets – all above 80 per cent – while Sikkim and Meghalaya were the only two states that reported a prevalence of less than 50 per cent. . , The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests using the Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) score to evaluate the quality of a child’s diet – it is considered diverse if it contains five or Include more food groups. , and fruits and vegetables.
Analyzing National Family and Health Survey data of 2019-21 (NFHS-5), researchers, including those from the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, found that the country’s overall rate of minimum dietary diversity failure fell from 87.4 per cent, which The calculations were done using data for 2005-06 (NFHS-3). However, “our study shows that the prevalence of minimum dietary diversity failure remains high (above 75 percent) in India,” the authors wrote in the study published in the National Medical Journal of India.
The team also looked at the dietary habits of children across different food groups, such as proteins and vitamins, and compared the data for 2019-21 with 2005-06. Egg consumption recorded “impressive” growth, from about 5 percent in NFHS-3 to more than 17 percent in NFHS-5, while consumption of legumes and nuts increased from about 14 percent to 17 percent during 2005–06. It became more. During 2019-21. The authors wrote, “Consumption of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A increased by 7.3 percentage points, while consumption of other fruits and vegetables increased by 13 percentage points over the same time. For foods containing meat, consumption increased by 4 percent.” Points increased.” ,
However, consumption of breast milk and dairy products declined from 87 percent in NFHS-3 to 85 percent in NFHS-5 and from 54 percent to 52 percent. The authors also found that children of uneducated and rural mothers who had no exposure to mass media, who were born earlier and who did not receive counseling and health check-ups in Anganwadi or Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centres, The chances of having children were higher. Consuming a diet lacking variety. Children with anemia and low birth weight were found to be more likely to consume a non-diverse diet.
To tackle the issue of inadequate diversity in children’s diets, the authors called for a holistic approach from the government, including an improved public distribution system, intensive ICDS programmes, use of social media and nutrition counseling through local self-governance. PTI KRS Division Division.
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