Tribal Household Food Insecurity, Mother's Food Diversity and Its Association with Nutritional Status of under-Five Children in Pulghar District, Maharashtra

Sachin Kamble, PhD student

Objective: To assess the nutritional status of tribal children under five and its relationship with household food insecurity and mother’s food diversity. Design: A cross-sectional study explored the relationship between household food insecurity and children's nutritional status from February to August 2021. Setting: The study included 575 households from 16 villages in four blocks of Palghar district, Maharashtra. Methods: Mothers with at least one child under five were included. Anthropometric measurements such as height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference were taken for children aged 0-5. Household food insecurity (HFIA) was measured using the HFIA Access Scale (FANTA). WHO's Anthro software was used. Results: Of the children studied, 61% were stunted, 56% were underweight, and 26% were wasted. Household food insecurity was not linked to child nutritional status but was associated with low birth weight and MUAC. A significant relationship was found between the mother’s food diversity and the child's nutritional status. Adequate maternal food diversity lowered stunting risk by 67%, lowering stunting, wasting, and underweight rates in food-secure households. Conclusion: Household food insecurity was not directly related to child nutritional status but was correlated with maternal food diversity, highlighting the need to improve mothers’ diets to enhance child health.

Keywords: The Demography of Indigenous Populations, Children, Adolescents, and Youth

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