NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY AMONG TRIBALS OF ANDHRA PRADESH AP TRIBAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA

Abstract

A base line survey was conducted in 23 villages and 3 different seasons by the same group of investigators during 1993&1994 in the same village. The objective of the study was to assess the dietary intakes of various tribal population and to compare with the recommended dietary allowances prescribed by ICMR, to evaluate the nutritional status of different age group population and to obtain information on food security in the tribal households and traditional food habits and subsequent changes in diets, if any. The significance observations in the study was that severe malnutrition of grades III & IV were very common. In males, the overall prevalence of grade IV malnutrition was observed to the extent of 2.12%. individual tribal communities like Gadaba, Bagatha, Jatapu and Valmiki has grade IV malnutrition figures of 16.7%, 4.8%, 3.3% and 3.2% respectively. This is an alarming proportion. Grade III malnutrition overall was 9.2% and in different tribes, it varied from 7.14% to 22.58%. The grade I & II malnutrition prevalence in all the age groups in all tribes together worked out to be 27.9% & 19.1% respectively. In females, the overall figures for grade III & IV malnutrition across all age groups and all tribes were 4.76% & 3.37% respectively. For some reasons, grade III malnutrition was ore among the males compared to females. On the other hand, grade IV malnutrition was more among the females than males. In Mali community highest grade IV malnutrition was observed among females. The seasonal variation was very obvious in cereal intake as evidenced by the fact that in all the 14 tribes cereal intake was highest in winter season and lowest in summer season. Roots and tubers were maximally consumed in summer. Anemia is a common problem in all age groups and the present study corroborated this observation. The intake of iron and Vit A deficiency is very common in tribal areas. The study indicates several inadequacies in the dietary and nutritional situation of the tribals studied. One of the main reasons for strong tendency for seasonal deficiency observed in the study is due to the fact that no food security exists among the tribals. The tribals observe certain foods as taboo. During pregnancy and lactating periods, certain foods are avoided by them. The present study also provided some suggestions and recommendations.