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. 2024 Mar 13;16(6):819.
doi: 10.3390/nu16060819.

Effectiveness of Millet-Pulse-Groundnut Based Formulations in Improving the Growth of Pre-School Tribal Children in Telangana State, India

Datta Mazumdar Saikat  1 , Afari-Sefa Victor  1 , Selvaraj Aravazhi  1 , Durgalla Priyanka  1 , Seetha Anitha  1 , Nedumaran Tamilselvi  1 , Gaddam Divya Nancy  1 , Mane Harshvardhan  1 , Bhattacharjee Suchiradipta  1 , Swamikannu Nedumaran  1 , Raman Anitha  1 , Banerjee Roopa  1 , Padmanabhan Jyosthnaa  1 , Bose Disha  1
Affiliations

Effectiveness of Millet-Pulse-Groundnut Based Formulations in Improving the Growth of Pre-School Tribal Children in Telangana State, India

Datta Mazumdar Saikat et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

A community-level nutritional intervention was implemented among tribal children (3 to 6 years of age) in Telangana, India. The one-year intervention involved six nutrient-rich formulations of millet-pulse-groundnut-based products suited to local taste preferences. Anthropometric measurements of height, weight, and mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) along with haemoglobin (Hb) levels were monitored at baseline and endline. The treatment group showed considerable gains in height (3.2 cm), weight (1.68 kg), and MUAC (0.33 cm) over the control group. The paired t-test indicated significant differences (p < 0.01) between the pre- and post-intervention anthropometric measurements. Positive shifts were observed in terms of wasting (WHZ; -1.2 ± 1.3 to -0.9 ± 1), stunting (HAZ; -1.8 ± 1.6 to -0.3 ± 1.3), and underweight (WAZ; -1.9 ± 1.2 to -0.7 ± 1) in the treatment group. The Hb levels in the treatment group also improved significantly from 9.70 ± 0.14 g/dL (moderately anaemic) to 11.08 ± 0.13 g/dL (non-anaemic). Post-intervention focus group discussions (FGDs) involving mothers and teachers confirmed these positive impacts. Thus, a nutritional intervention formulated using climate-resilient millets, pulses, and groundnuts promotes dietary diversity and improves the nutrition and health statuses of children.

Keywords: millets; nutrition intervention; pre-school children; ready-to-cook food; ready-to-eat food; sorghum.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of administrative divisions of study areas in Eturunagaram and Bhadrachalam ITDAs. Location: Anthropometry measurements, FGDs, and key informant interviews were conducted at Anganwadi centres in the respective areas. E—Preschool children enrolled in the Giri Poshana programme in target ITDAs; M—Mothers of the pre-school children who participated in the FGDs; T—Anganwadi teachers interviewed; Control—Children who did not receive millet feed and were followed up for their anthropometric measurements for the entire duration of the study; Intervention—Children who received millet feed and were followed up for their anthropometric measurements for the entire duration of the study; E, M, T, control, and intervention are the total number of individuals across three and five mandals (M) in the two districts (D).
Figure 2
Figure 2
ITDA-Eturunagaram showing mandals involved in the study.
Figure 3
Figure 3
ITDA-Bhadrachalam showing mandals involved in the study.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Comparison of Z-scores for wasting or weight-for-height (WHZ) curve with WHO standard curve at baseline and at endline (post-intervention using millet–pulse–groundnut-based formulations) of pre-school children in (a) treatment group (mean WHZ moved from −1.2 ± 1.3 to −0.9 ± 1) and (b) control group (mean WHZ from 1.2 ± 1 to −1.4 ± 1.1).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Comparison of Z-scores for stunting or height-for-age (HAZ) curve with WHO standard curve at baseline and at endline (post-intervention using millet–pulse–groundnut-based formulations) of pre-school children in (a) treatment group (mean HAZ moved from −1.8 ± 1.6 to −0.3 ± 1.3) and (b) control group (−2.0 ± 1.7 to −0.8 ± 1.3).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Comparison of Z-scores for underweight or weight-for-age (WAZ) curve with WHO standard curve at baseline and at endline (post-intervention using millet–pulse–groundnut-based formulations) of pre-school children in (a) treatment group (mean WAZ moved from −1.9 ± 1.2 to −0.7 ± 1) and (b) control group (mean WAZ from −1.9 ± 1 to −1.4 ± 1).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Preferences of food products by children from Bhadrachalam and Eturunagaram ITDAs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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