Nutritional Behaviours in Pregnant And Lactating Mothers and Children Aged 0-36 Months in a High-Resource Gram Panchayat

Abstract

The study investigates the nutritional behaviours of pregnant and lactating mothers and children aged 0-36 months in a high-resource Gram Panchayat in Telangana, India. The research uses a Rapid Ethnographic Assessment (REA) approach to explore feeding and eating habits, breastfeeding practices, and complementary feeding within this well-resourced rural setting. Key findings reveal alarming gaps in breastfeeding education, challenges in complementary feeding, and a blend of traditional and modern nutritional practices. The study emphasises the urgent role of the Gram Panchayat in facilitating effective nutritional interventions and highlights the pressing need for targeted nutrition education programmes, strengthened health services, and community engagement to optimise maternal and child health outcomes.