Diet Quality, Nutritional Adequacy and Anthropometric Status among Indigenous Women of Reproductive Age Group (15-49 Years) in India: A Narrative Review

Abstract

In India, indigenous communities are nutritionally vulnerable, with indigenous women suffering the greater burden. Studies and surveys have reported poor nutritional outcomes among indigenous women in India, yet systematic documentation of community-specific nutrition data is lacking. We conducted a narrative review of 42 studies to summarise the nutritional profile of indigenous women of India, with details on their food and nutrient intakes, dietary diversity, traditional food consumption and anthropometric status. Percentage deficits were observed in intake of pulses, green leafy vegetables, fruits, vegetables, flesh foods and dairy products when compared with recommended dietary intakes for moderately active Indian women. Indices of diet quality in indigenous women were documented in limited studies, which revealed poor dietary diversity as well as low consumption of diverse traditional foods. A high risk of nutritional inadequacy was reported in all communities, especially for iron, calcium, and vitamin A. Prevalence of chronic energy deficiency was high in most communities, with dual burden of malnutrition in indigenous women of north-eastern region. Findings from this review can thus help guide future research and provide valuable insights for policymakers and program implementers on potential interventions for addressing specific nutritional issues among indigenous women of India.

Keywords: Indian tribal women; diet quality; dietary intake; food consumption; indigenous women; nutrient intake; nutritional status.

Figure 1. Flow diagram reporting the screening and selection process used in identification of nutritional studies conducted among non-pregnant indigenous women aged 15–49 years in India.

Figure 2. Heat map indicating the percentage deficit/excess in food group consumption among indigenous women of India.

Figure 3. Estimates of traditional food consumption in indigenous women of Jharkhand, India [25,30,44,45].

Figure 4

(a,b) Heat map depicting the prevalence of chronic energy deficiency and overweight/obese in indigenous women from selected states of India. Note: Red shading; indicates a high prevalence (>40%) of chronic energy deficiency or overweight/obese, with darker shades representing a higher prevalence. Orange shading represents a moderate prevalence of 29–39%; Yellow shading represents a prevalence of 16-28%, with green yellowish shades representing a lower prevalence. Green shading represents a low prevalence (<16%), with darker shades representing a lower prevalence. *NFHS-5 (2022) [20].