Nutritional Status and Dietary Pattern of 7-9 Years School Going Children in India and Ethiopia

Abstract

The present cross sectional study was conducted to assess the dietary pattern and nutritional status of 7 to 9 year-old children of India[Nagpur] and Ethiopia[Nekemte]. Nutritional status of children was assessed in terms of demographic and socio-economic profile, dietary assessment, and anthropometric measurement. The children were selected randomly from the low socioeconomic group. 77% of the children in Nagpur followed four meal pattern [B+L+S+D] while in Nekemte three meal pattern [B+L+D] was followed their diets were monotonous and cereal-based. In Nagpur 55% of children liked to eat ready to eat food liked rock - roll, kurkura, and chips, 21% of children liked chicken meat, in Nekemte. 82 % and 61% of the children consumed fruits rarely in Nekemte and Nagpur. The results of the study revealed that food and nutrient intake was inadequate and consumption of all the nutrients by  the children was comparatively less than the recommended dietary allowances. The intake of fruits and vegetables particularly, that of green leafy vegetables was also found to be grossly inadequate which could possibly have led to the deficient micronutrient intake.  Data on anthropometry revealed that out of total children screened (N=200), mean height and weight in all the age group was significantly  less than the National Center for Health Statistics standards. So there is an urgent need to educate mothers of school going children about the importance of balanced diet and promote the consumption of foods like cereals, pulses, green leafy vegetables, roots and tubers, sugar and jaggery, fats and oil, milk and milk products, fruits etc. in the children's diet to improve their nutritional status so that children contribute in the well- being of the nation as children are the future of the nation's prosperity.