ABSTRACT
Background: Research on different measures of food security and their interrelation in order to identify vulnerable households are scarce in India. Objectives: The objective was to assess household food security (HHFS), nutrient adequacy, dietary diversity, and nutritional status of under-five children along with their interrelation in the slums of Bankura Municipality, West Bengal. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during 2016–2017 among 240 households using two-stage 30-cluster random sampling. Information regarding socioeconomic characteristics, availability, and utilization of different poverty alleviation schemes was collected. HHFS was assessed by a validated HHFS scale-short form in Bengali and nutrient adequacy with 24-h recall method. The eldest under-five child in the family was measured for anthropometry using standard procedure and for dietary diversity with the Individual Dietary Diversity Score. Results: Overall, 74 (29.1%) households had “food security,” whereas 102 (44.3%) and 64 (26.6%) had, respectively, low and very low food security. Among 190 under-five children, 63 (35.3%) had single and 50 (25.5%) had multiple anthropometric failures. Overall, 89 (36.1%) households were deficient for both energy and protein and 111 (47.6%) had deficiency of either of these two. Indicators on the utilization of different poverty alleviation schemes were associated with low/very low food security. A “Composite Index of Food Scarcity” comprising of HHFS, nutrient adequacy, and dietary diversity was proposed which was found to have dose–response relationship with grades of anthropometric failure of under-five children. Conclusions: An index comprising of three indicators might help identify the vulnerable households in relation to food security more effectively than a single indicator.
ABSTRACT
Background: Understanding dietary diversity of women of reproductive age (WRA) is vital for better nutritional interventions of their health and that of unborn. Most diets consumed are macronutrient dense which leads to micronutrient deficiencies like neural tube defects (NTDs).Thirty three babies were born with NTDs at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital during 2016 and 2017 for reasons among which is folate deficiency. Folate can be derived cheaply from green vegetable consumption before antenatal visits. The study’s objective was to assess dietary diversity of WRA (15-49 years) living within Mbarara district.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted for three months using a translated dietary diversity questionnaire from Food and Agricultural Organisation. Applying a 24 h recall method at various intervals of feeding, 402 WRA living within three constituencies of Mbarara district were randomly selected to participate.Results: 70.1% of WRA attained high Individual dietary diversity score (IDDS) of (≥6). 45.1% consumed folate rich plant and animal sources. 4.8%, 8.4%, and 17.6% consumed dark green leafy vegetables, vitamin rich fruits and animal sources respectively. Education, constituency of residence and occupation had a significant association with IDDS of P≤0.05 (0.000, 0.004, 0.030) respectively. WRA who scored IDDS≥6, 58.2% attained at least secondary education, 51.1% lived in urban constituency and 47.5% were working. 30% consumed starchy staple groups, though at 15.8% legumes, nuts and seeds group was most consumed.Conclusions: Low intake of folate rich sources was noted, though many WRA consumed diverse diets therefore, education and employment are suitable interventions