Protocol of Explanatory Study on Social, Economic and Political Dimensions of Nutritional Status of Children Aged Six to Sixty Months from Low Socio-Economic Strata in Kerala, India

Jayalakshmi, Rajeev; Kannan, Srinivasan

doi:10.7565/ssp.v4.5284

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…We employed multiple methods -survey, key informant interviews, secondary data analysis, document analysis, and eld notes in the study. The detailed methodology is discussed elsewhere [4]. The ndings of the survey and secondary data analyses are also been published in a series of publications [5][6][7].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whether child nutrition is prioritized in Kerala? An exploration of the Integrated Child Development Services Programme

Jayalakshmi

Kannan

2023

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Background Kerala, a southern state of India well-known for its human development, is lagging to tackle undernutrition among children below five years in the last decade even though one in five children experience at least one form of nutritional deficiency. The present paper examines the prioritization of child nutrition in the political agenda of Kerala and the implementation of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme. Methods Thirty in-depth interviews with ICDS service providers and policymakers, and document analyses (ICDS Manual for District-level Functionaries − 2017, Legislative Assembly questions, and field diaries) were done. The interviews were conducted and transcribed in Malayalam and later translated into English. A thematic analysis of the interviews and content analysis documents were done. Results Major themes that emerged from the analysis were inadequate facilities; undue importance of perfect documentation rather than the operationalization of ICDS services; parents’ expectations about their children’s education; the helplessness of AWWs to persuade parents to give their children supplementary nutrition or send them to AWCs; job burden of AWWS and ICDS supervisors and the lack of earnestness with regard to the importance of adequate nutrition; cutting the budget for implementing ICDS; timely disbursal of allocated budget and stopping the training for AWWs; and poor cross-sectoral convergence were found to affect the achievement of nutrition goals of ICDS. Conclusion The study revealed that child nutrition is not a prioritised political agenda, which is reflected in the implementation of ICDS and services rendered through the programme. Parents’ perspectives on the need and functions of ICDS matter in terms of service utilization. Reforms without considering them will not help to achieve the objectives.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whether child nutrition is prioritized in Kerala? An exploration of the Integrated Child Development Services Programme

Jayalakshmi

Kannan

2023

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“…Screening was performed at each AWC to identify children belonging to low socioeconomic strata. The detailed sampling strategy and screening are described elsewhere (Jayalakshmi & Srinivasan, 2021).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional status of socioeconomically disadvantaged children below 5 years: A cross‐sectional study from Kerala, India

Jayalakshmi

Kannan

2021

World Med & Health Policy

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Undernutrition among children under the age of five remains untracked in India. One in five children are undernourished even in Kerala, a developed south Indian state well known for its egalitarian development. The aim of this paper is to understand the social, economic, and political dimensions of undernutrition among children of age 6–60 months belonging to low socioeconomic households in Kerala. 468 children (50% girls) were surveyed. The prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting among the study children were 25.6%, 24.4%, and 14.4%, respectively. Acute illnesses, underweight of mothers, low standard of living, and not utilizing Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Public Distribution System (PDS) increased the risk of children being undernourished. The study found that children below 5 years from low socioeconomic strata had a higher risk of being undernourished, proving the vicious cycle of poverty and undernutrition. The association between the nutritional statuses of mothers and children indicates the vulnerability of multiple members from poor households to be malnourished. The utilization of ICDS and PDS was found to improve nutritional status and hence, the state has to ensure that the benefits of these initiatives are reaching the neediest in adequate quantity and quality.

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“…The results showed that household wealth index was the most significant contributor to stunting, followed by mother's education and nutritional status. Jayalakshmi and Kannan [10] explored the social, economic, and political dimensions of undernutrition among children aged 6-60 months from low socio-economic households in Kerala. The study found that children below 5 years from low socio-economic backgrounds were at a higher risk of being undernourished, which can perpetuate the cycle of poverty and undernutrition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Study on Income Inequality and Nutritional Status of Children in Rural Areas of Jammu and Kashmir: Evidence from Jammu District, India

Kumar

2023

SAJSSE

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Children nutritional status is a powerful indicator of nutrition security and well-being of individual and reflects the nutritional and poverty situation of household. Good nutritional status of children under five years of age is very crucial for the foundation of a healthy life. This study is a small attempt to highlight the extent of malnutrition in rural areas of Jammu district on the basis of households’ economic status. It empirically investigates the relationship between income inequality and nutritional status of children under age of five years of age (stunting) in the rural areas of Jammu district of Jammu and Kashmir. To determine the prevalence of undernutrition among different income groups of rural households, the study uses the data of a primary household survey. In order to measure the level of undernutrition (stunting), gender-specific anthropometric z-scores for height-for-age are calculated by using new child growth standards which are developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The study finds that children from households in the poorest quintile have significantly higher odds of stunting compared to those in the highest income quintile. The study revealed a negative association between income and the prevalence of stunting in the study area. It means the proportion of stunted children under five years of age decreases as the level of income increases among rural households. The study suggests that the government can help improve the nutritional status of children by taking important policy initiatives that addresses income inequality and poverty in rural areas.

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Protocol of Explanatory Study on Social, Economic and Political Dimensions of Nutritional Status of Children Aged Six to Sixty Months from Low Socio-Economic Strata in Kerala, India

Cited by 3 publications

References 19 publications

Whether child nutrition is prioritized in Kerala? An exploration of the Integrated Child Development Services Programme

Whether child nutrition is prioritized in Kerala? An exploration of the Integrated Child Development Services Programme

Nutritional status of socioeconomically disadvantaged children below 5 years: A cross‐sectional study from Kerala, India

A Study on Income Inequality and Nutritional Status of Children in Rural Areas of Jammu and Kashmir: Evidence from Jammu District, India

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