ABSTRACT
Objective. To study the impact of wholesome mid day meal (MDM) program run by an NGO on the growth of the primary school students in rural area of Mathura district. Methods. This intervention study involved children enrolled in Government run rural primary schools in Mathura district in Uttar Pradesh from March 06 through August 07. A wholesome, nutritionally balanced MDM provided by an NGO for the students in the 6 primary schools was selected as intervention group. Control group consisted of children in 8 schools which received locally prepared MDM by village panchayats. Height, weight, change in height/month, change in weight/month, prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition and prevalence of signs of vitamin deficiencies, were measured. Results. Food was provided for 221 days in one year. Within group and between groups repetitive measures were compared using generalized estimating equation (GEE). Within both intervention and control groups height and weight had significantly increased (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the groups. There was no change in prevalence of malnutrition within either of the groups. Reduction in vitamin A deficiency signs was 38% more in intervention group (p < 0.001). Prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency reduced by 50% more in intervention group. No such differences between groups were observed for vitamin B complex and vitamin C. Conclusions. MDM provided by the NGO has no better impact on growth of the primary school children, however, it reduced prevalence of vitamin deficiency significantly in comparison to the MDM run by Village Panchayats.
Subject(s)
Avitaminosis/epidemiology , Avitaminosis/prevention & control , Body Height , Body Weight , Child , Child Nutrition Disorders/epidemiology , Child Nutrition Disorders/prevention & control , Child, Preschool , Female , Food Services , Growth , Health Promotion , Humans , India/epidemiology , Male , Organizations , Prevalence , Protein-Energy Malnutrition/epidemiology , Protein-Energy Malnutrition/prevention & control , School Health ServicesABSTRACT
This study was carried out to find out the impact of a specially designed preventive intervention on menstrual and sexual hygiene practices and incidence of RTI/STI among the newly married women. A community based intervention study with controls was conducted in two resettlement colonies of Delhi. Total 74 subjects in intervention group and 71 subjects in the control group were studied. Each subject was followed up for 9 months every three monthly. The intervention package included education about menstrual and sexual hygiene, RTI/STIs and contraceptive usage, and packets of condoms. RTI/STI was diagnosed using syndromic approach. Only 2 and 8 subjects in the intervention and control group respectively used condoms (p>0.05 after adjustment). Practice of washing genitals improved in the intervention group (p<0.05 both with and without adjustment). 19 (25.68%) women in intervention and 22 (30.99%) in the control group (p=0.478) reported RTI/STI symptoms during study period; after adjusting for other variables OR=0.37 (p=0.007). 57.89% of RTI/STI patients consulted doctor in intervention group as compared to 18.18% in control group (p<0.05). Increasing awareness and providing intervention at the very beginning of sexual life of newly married women can modify some of the high risk behaviors and thus reduce the risk of acquiring RTI/STIs.
ABSTRACT
During the period immediately after marriage, women are neither assessed for their reproductive health nor given any intervention for the same. A community based longitudinal study was done to assess the status of reproductive health of newly married women in which 71 newly married women were followed for 9 months. Mean age at marriage was 20.24 (19.74-20.74) years. 76.06% were anemic. With time, proportion reporting menstrual complaints and RTI symptoms increased significantly (P<0.05). 29 (40.85%) reported menstrual complaints and 22 (30.99%) RTI symptoms. Only 14 (19.72%) subjects used contraceptive methods. 79% conceived within 9 months of marriage. Only 25% pregnancies got registered in first trimester. Reproductive and nutritional status of the newly married women was unsatisfactory.