Impacts of Low-cost Nutritional Intervention Among Malnourished Children of Malma

A study was conducted to assess the nutritional status of the children of Salua Board Primary School, Malma by Unit 3 volunteers guided by their Program Officer, Professor Analava Mitra of SMST.  Volunteers of Units 8 and 13 helped with the control survey and other data collection activities.  The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of low cost nutritional supplements on the pattern of nutritional status.  The study targeted 25 preschool children of 4 to 6 years of age and 95 primary school children of 6 to 10 years of age.  The 6-month intervention involved provision of (a) 60-ml of soya milk daily to 4-year olds (10 children), (b) 60-ml of soya milk daily and a banana on alternate days and an egg on alternate days to 5-6 year olds (15 children), and (c) a banana on alternate days and an egg on alternate days to the primary school children.

Initial nutritional status of the selected children was assessed by measuring body height (cm) and weight (kg). Height and weight were compared with ICMR standards.   Waterlow Classification was followed to assess the nutritional status of the children.  The height and weight measurements were repeated after 3 months.

The initial assessment showed the presence of severe to moderate malnutrition among target primary school children depending on the parameter of assessment as shown below.  Although the statistics regarding the preschoolers are still being worked out, improvements appear to be promising.

Wasting and stunting among preschool and primary school children of Malma

After the beginning of intervention nutritional status of the children of Malma showed rapid and marked improvement as illustrated below.  The success has prompted Unit 8 to start a sensitization program for the residents of Malma and the local authorities to develop a sustainable scheme to provide appropriate low cost nutritional supplements to the children.

Declining wasting-related malnutrition levels with duration of nutritional intervention

Declining stunting-related malnutrition levels with duration of nutritional intervention