Nutritional Assessment Of Women In The Reproductive Age Group From Icds Slum Area In Pune City

Research question: What is the dietary intake of women in childbearing age group in ICDS slum area? Objectives: 1. To assess the dietary pattern of women aged 15-45 yrs. from the ICDS slum area of Pune. 2. To validate the effectiveness of supplementary nutrition to pregnant and lactating women under the ICDS scheme. Study design: Cross-sectional. Setting: 4 Angarwadis from ICDS Pune (U) Project 1978-79. Participants: 499 women in the reproductive age group (15-45 yrs) Study variables: Physiological status and dietary intake. Outcome variables: Adequacy of caloric and protein intake. Statistical analysis: Chi- square test, ANOVA. Results: The mean caloric intake of pregnant women was 1099.3 calories; of lactating mothers, 1185.5 calories and of those in the non- pregnant, non- lactating (NPNL) group, 1092 calories. Similarly the mean protein intake of pregnant, lactating and NPNL women was 31.6, 36.6 and 33.9 gms respectively. Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference in the dietary intake of calories and proteins during physiological stress of pregnancy and lactation.