Impact of NGO run mid day meal program on nutrition status and growth of primary school children.
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Date
2010-07
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Abstract
Objective. To study the impact of wholesome mid day meal (MDM) program run by an NGO on the growth of the primary school students in rural area of Mathura district.
Methods. This intervention study involved children enrolled in Government run rural primary schools in Mathura district in Uttar
Pradesh from March 06 through August 07. A wholesome, nutritionally balanced MDM provided by an NGO for the students
in the 6 primary schools was selected as intervention group. Control group consisted of children in 8 schools which received
locally prepared MDM by village panchayats. Height, weight, change in height/month, change in weight/month, prevalence of
protein-energy malnutrition and prevalence of signs of vitamin deficiencies, were measured.
Results. Food was provided for 221 days in one year. Within group and between groups repetitive measures were compared
using generalized estimating equation (GEE). Within both intervention and control groups height and weight had significantly
increased (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the groups. There was no change in prevalence of
malnutrition within either of the groups. Reduction in vitamin A deficiency signs was 38% more in intervention group (p < 0.001).
Prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency reduced by 50% more in intervention group. No such differences between groups were
observed for vitamin B complex and vitamin C.
Conclusions. MDM provided by the NGO has no better impact on growth of the primary school children, however, it reduced
prevalence of vitamin deficiency significantly in comparison to the MDM run by Village Panchayats.
Description
Keywords
Mid day meal, Child growth, Malnutrition, Vitamin deficiency, Primary school
Citation
Sharma A K, Singh Samiksha, Meena Sonali, Kannan A T. Impact of NGO run mid day meal program on nutrition status and growth of primary school children. Indian Journal of Pediatrics. 2010 July; 77(7): 763-769.