Abstract

PIP: A comparison of anthropometric measures was made in 1977 among 1199 children 7-60 months old in rural villages in Ludhiana district, Punjab state, and 1054 rural children in a different region of the same district in 1987. The aim was to determine the impact of changed socioeconomic conditions due to development and not to estimate the impact of special nutrition programs, which were implemented after 1977 in the first study area. In 1977, among 1199 children, 30.9% of females and 16.5% of males were malnourished at Grade II or above. 51.9% of males and only 37.5% of females had a normal weight-for-age. In 1987, among 1054 children, 28.5% of females and 15.5% of males were suffering from severe malnutrition: similar proportions as were found in 1977. The proportion of children with normal nutrition remained similarly unchanged. The z-test indicated no statistically significant difference between the two time periods. The indicators of development showed considerable improvement between 1977 and 1987: per capita net domestic product, net irrigated area, use of fertilizer, area under high-yielding varieties, area under fruits and vegetables, milk production, annual per capita consumption of electricity, wages of labor (agricultural and skilled), road length, and consumer price index (food index). The percolation effect to those in need clearly did not occur. The report based on the author's personal experience indicated that women had increased work in the labor force, but this was done probably at the expense of the child. Other studies have indicated that malnutrition was best treated through nutrition health education, promotion of breast feeding, control of infections, and use of oral rehydration therapy.