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Malnutrition
Introduction
Nutrition is perhaps the most important factor, which affects the health of a
person. Malnutrition takes place because of less nutritional content in food.
Tribals, because of poor economic conditions and lack of facilities, frequently
suffer from malnutrition. A combination of factors makes them vulnerable.
Most tribals live in sub-human physical conditions. An average tribal family
has seven people living in only two rooms. Their homes do not have enough
ventilation. Their pigs, cattle, and hens live within the same house, to ensure
the security of their animals. Generally they do not have electricity, sanitary
latrines, etc. They use the same source of water for themselves as well as for
their cattle, to wash their clothes and vessels. They themselves take bath in
that same water, which gets mixed with wells that satisfy the need of drinking
water. Moreover, the wells themselves are rarely properly constructed and
maintained. [1]
Food
Lack of nutritious food is another factor. They get green vegetables from
their farms, milk from their cows, and other food-grains but they sell it for
money and do not use for themselves. Their intake is limited to items such as
Kosari, Ambadi, Peas, Bamboo shoots, Banana, Guava, some vegetables if
available, Rice, and rarely Meat. This is not sufficient for their daily
requirements. Less than 40% have scientifically correct knowledge of proper
health care. Neither do they have proper knowledge for growing the vegetables
and taking the maximum from whatever products they have.
With the normal food they take beverages and chew tobacco. This impacts
negatively on their health. Sometime they take arum, which contains
carbohydrate, protein, vitamins and minerals etc. needed for good health, but
since they take this in large quantity it has negative affects and becomes
addictive.[2]
Because of malnutrition tribals shows: [3, 4]
Working conditions of women
Generally women work for 14 hours per day while men work just for 9 hours. A
woman at starting as well as during advance pregnancy, works hard with no extra
food intake; thus maternal malnutrition is common among the tribal women, which
causes serious health problems. Also reproductive
health behaviour impacts greatly on tribal women. As they undergo many
pregnancies they significantly face the problem of malnutrition. Because of
maternal health, children too suffer from malnutrition. Thus infant mortality,
pre-natal death takes place in tribes. Tribals neglect maternal and child
health, because they have suffered from malnutrition for such a long time.
Requirements
It is essential to provide good drinking water, keep the environment free
from pathogens as well as harmful biochemical agents and provide sufficient
opportunity for optimum intake of nutrition.[5] Since every
human being requires vitamins, minerals etc. a balanced diet is necessary. For
this, intervention by government or social groups is not sufficient; the tribals
themselves must start accepting some cleaning projects.
Programmes for tribals
Government is supporting the tribals through various programmes such as:
- S
upplementary Nutrition Programme the pregnant women
gets supplementary nutritional items like iron tablets, vitamins, gram,
hotch-potch etc. Mothers also get advised by gram-sevikas to take tetanus
injection and attend the hospital for check-up at regular intervals. They also
provide soyabean biscuits to expectant mothers as well as children who are
suffering from malnutrition.
- The physicians who visit the tribal areas frequently also try to emphasize
on personal cleanliness, sanitation, potable water, provision of minimum
light and ventilation in the houses. They found impurities in water and lack
of cleanliness and unsanitary habits, which result in worm infection. [6]
To give nutritious food and medicines is not sufficient. Since the tribals do
not know the importance of nutrition, training programmes are required to
improve their knowledge. There is need to provide special attention to this
group and their nutritional status, nutritional education, iron requirements
etc.[7]
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, which took samples from
some of the communities i.e. Khond, Godaba, Pothey, tribals consume less food
than recommended. The mean nutrition intake is low, causing deficiency, which
varies from 15% to 75% approximately. [8]
Though they do not consume proper food they use many herbal medicines and
their knowledge is good about them. Actually their food is also rich in protein
and calcium, iron, phosphorus etc. but since they do not consume it regularly,
they face problems of malnutrition. [9]
References:
- SINGH, AMAR KUMAR & JAYASWAL, MEERA.: Health
Modernity in Tribals of Jharkhand.
- Social Change. Mar.-June 1994. 24(1 & 2).p.138-177.
- BHAGWAN, SHREE.: Bada Madia- A Population Crisis.
- Tribal Research Bulletin. Mar. 1997. XIX(1).p.1-7.
- BASU, S.K.: Health
Status of Tribal Women in India. Social Change. Dec. 1993.
23(4).p.19-39.
- RAJALAKSHMI, C.: Health Modernity in Tribal and
Non-Tribal Women in Santal Pargana.
- Social Change. Mar. 1991. 21(1).p.23-38.
- SAHAY, MANORANJAN.: Health Status of Tribals in India.
- Social Change. June-Sept. 1993. 23(2 & 3).p.172-178.
- KAR, R.K. & GOGOI, JURI.: Health Status of Noctes in
Arunachal Pradesh.
- Social Change. June-Sept. 1993. 23(2 & 3).p.164-171.
- KARMARKAR & ET.AL.: Nutritional
Status of Tribal Women in Bihar Man in India. June 1995.
75(2).p.209-214.
- KUPPUTHAI, U. & MALLIKA, N.: Nutrional
Status of Adult Women Belonging to Khond, Gadaba and Porja Tribes of Andhra
Pradesh The Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics. July 1993.
30(7).p.173-179.
- TAMILARASI MURUGESAN, P. & ANANTHALAKSHMI, A.: Dietary
Practices of the Paliyar Tribal Group and the Nutrient Content of
Unconventional Foods Consumed. The Indian Journal of Nutrition and
Dietetics. Dec. 1991. 28(12).p.297-301.
[All Articles are Located at: S.N.D.T. Churchgate]
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