Given that the rate of child malnutrition increases steadily between 0-24 months and then stabilizes by age 2, nutritionists have recommended mapping and counseling such families during the first 1000 days of a child’s life from conception.
The National Family Health Survey-5, released last December, presented a dire scenario according to which child malnutrition increased in 22 states and UTs in 2019-20 compared to 2015-16.
Around 13 of the 22 states and UTs surveyed saw an increase in the percentage of children under the age of 5 who are stunted compared to 2015-16. While 12 states and UTs saw an increase in the percentage of children under 5 who were wasted, 16 states and UTs saw an increase in the percentage of children under 5 who were heavily wasted and underweight in 2019-20 compared to NFHS- 4 found the NFHS-5.
Nutrition experts have recommended introducing a model that ensures targeted and timely advice to all pregnant and breastfeeding women during the first 1000 days of life, as conception is essential. ” This strategy is integrated into the program design of POSHAN Abhiyaan. However, in order to implement the strategy effectively, efforts must be made to map households with pregnant women and / or 0-24 months and channel intensive efforts to reduce child malnutrition, “they said. They went on to say that implementing such a plan will bring us one step closer to the vision of a malnutrition-free, healthy India by adding interpersonal counseling to the ongoing human-led movement.
” The first thousand days of life are important for promoting optimal growth and development of the brain. In fact, 80 percent of brain development takes place in the first 1000 days of life, ”said Dr. Sheila Vir, Director of the New Delhi Public Health Nutrition and Development Center.
” A child must be well nourished for healthy physical and mental development. Addressing the problem of low knowledge and poor adoption of adequate maternal nutritional and nutritional practices, as well as newborn care practices, is a major challenge in reducing chronic child malnutrition or stunt, which negatively affects overall cognitive development and under child mortality five years impact said. According to Vir, recent research suggests that 68 percent of children under 5 in India are related to child malnutrition. “A focus on mapping and repeated counseling of families with pregnant women, newborns, and children under 24 months of age in rural or urban areas, and in families with low or high wealth index is important to prevent the child’s growth from stalling and Child malnutrition is prevented, “she said.
Dr. Sebanti Ghosh, Country Program Director of Alive and Thrive, FHI360, also recommended intensified, contextualized and targeted advice that allows for case-by-case negotiation. “For example, a front-line health worker can initiate a dialogue on home visits about mother and child consumption of food groups and suggest easy-to-source or vegetable garden-grown supplements that add nutritional value to each meal.” ‘Ghosh said. She went on to say that information about suitability for a public distribution system (PDS), take-home ration (THR) and vaccination campaigns can also be discussed in detail during the targeted consultation. “Important issues such as water, sanitation and hygiene as well as toilets are other areas that could benefit from more intensive advice,” said Ghosh.
(This story was not edited by Devdiscourse staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
