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  • Original Article
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Traditional food consumption and nutritional status of Dalit mothers in rural Andhra Pradesh, South India

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 60, pages 1277–1283 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives:

To describe prevalence of malnutrition and their correlates of nutrient and traditional food consumption in rural Dalit mothers.

Design:

In a cross-sectional study, we used socio-cultural questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and clinical eye examinations during the rainy season in 2003. Food frequency questionnaires and 24-h recalls were conducted during both summer and rainy seasons.

Setting:

Dalit mothers with young children were recruited from 37 villages in the Medak District of rural Andhra Pradesh, India.

Subjects:

Dalit mothers (n=220) participated.

Results:

The prevalence of chronic energy-deficient (CED) mothers (body mass index <18.5 kg/m2) was 58%. Illiterate women and active women were more likely to have CED than those literate and non-active (relative risks (RR)=1.6 and 1.4, respectively, P⩽0.05), but literacy and activity level were not significant in multivariable analyses including sanitation and number of children ⩽5 years of age. Increasing levels of fat intake, as a percent of total energy, was significantly associated with lower risk of CED (RR of the lowest 25th percentile compared to those in the 75th percentile or above was 1.6, P⩽0.05), findings that remained significant in multivariable analyses. Consumption of pulses (g/day) was also inversely related to CED in univariate and multivariable analyses. Carbohydrate intake, as a percent of total energy, was inversely related to percent energy from fat (r=−0.96, P⩽0.01), and, although positively related to CED in univariate analyses, carbohydrate consumption was not significant in multivariable analyses. Mothers' age in years and income was positively related to vitamin A deficiency.

Conclusions:

These results confirm that CED and vitamin A malnutrition among Dalit women are predominant problems in this area. Increased consumption of local traditional Dalit food (particularly sorghum, pulses, vegetables and animal source food) should be incorporated as an important component of intervention strategies to improve nutritional status.

Sponsorship:

Supported by the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa and the Swiss Foundation for Nutrition Research, Zürich.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr Jose A Correa (McGill University Statistical Consulting Service) and Dr James Hanley (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University) for advice on statistical methods. We are most grateful to Dr GNV Brahmam (National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad) for his technical assistance in training for vitamin A deficiency signs. We thank interviewers and DDS staff for their efficiency. We acknowledge and thank Dalit sangham leaders and mothers who participated for their patience and time.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment, School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, Macdonald Campus of McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada

    M A Schmid, G M Egeland & H V Kuhnlein

  2. Deccan Development Society, Hyderabad, India

    B Salomeyesudas & P V Satheesh

Authors
  1. M A Schmid
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  2. G M Egeland
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  3. B Salomeyesudas
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  4. P V Satheesh
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  5. H V Kuhnlein
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Correspondence to H V Kuhnlein.

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Guarantors: HV Kuhnlein and GM Egeland.

Contributors: MAS, BS and HVK were responsible for developing research protocols, questionnaires, equipment and training, and data entry. GME completed data analysis and interpretation. PVS provided access to existing data.

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Schmid, M., Egeland, G., Salomeyesudas, B. et al. Traditional food consumption and nutritional status of Dalit mothers in rural Andhra Pradesh, South India. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 1277–1283 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602449

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