Assessing supplementary feeding programmes in selected Balwadies

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate whether feeding programmes achieve their goal of improving nutritional status of target groups when such groups live in environmental conditions that constantly pose risk of infections and infestations. Two major areas from Pune city were selected: one comprised mostly slum dwellers, living in poor environmental conditions (LSE) and the other with better-off families living in good environmental conditions (MSE). From each of the two areas two Balwadies (kindergartens) were selected: one was implementing a feeding programme (LSE(F) and MSE(F)) and the other was not (LSE(NF) and MSE(NF]. A total of 273 newly admitted pre-school children from these Balwadies were selected and anthropometric measurements were made three times during the study period of 7 months. Food items distributed in the school were weighted and analysed for energy and protein values. Assessment of nutritional status by the Gomez classification showed that in both areas, moderately and severely malnourished children receiving the supplement showed significant improvement (P less than 0.05) as compared to those not receiving the supplement, but the extent of improvement differed. The impact of the food supplement in LSE was less than that in MSE suggesting that poor environmental conditions were a major interfering factor and cannot be overlooked.