Department of Foods and Nutrition, Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendra nagar, Hyderabad-500 030, India
Online published on 6 November, 2013.
The present study evaluated the impact of jowar (Sorghum vulgare) supplementation on growth and nutritional status of school children in three regions of Andhra Pradesh. A total number of 900 children constituted the study sample with duration of 45 days covering six schools selected from three districts i.e Anantapur (Rayalaseema), Mahbubnagar (Telangana) and vizianagaram (Coastal Andhra) regions of Andhra Pradesh. Two schools from each district, one for control group and other for implementation of the experiment termed as experimental group. The basic recipes selected for supplementation were upma, kichidi and vegetable bath and they were standardized to meet 1/3 of the daily calorie requirement of school going children. Nutritional status in terms of height, weight, arm circumference and clinical morbidity pattern was collected using standard schedules. Significant improvement in weight gain of children was registered after 45 days of feeding jowar recipes in Anantapur district and no significant difference was observed in Mahbubnagar and vizianagaram district. Improved nutritional status of weight gain, lowered nutritional deficiency symptoms and morbidity pattern was observed among children of experimental group.
Feasibility, Jowar, Mid day meal programme, Morbidity, Nutritional status, School going children
