protein supplimentation

PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTATION

AUTHOR: S.K.Mohanasundhari

KEY: Protein supplementation, Protein energy malnutrition and pre-school children.

INTRODUCTION:

          Nutrition is an input and foundation of growth and development. Better nutrition provides strong immune system, less illness and better health. In developing and under developed countries childhood malnutrition is a multi-dimensional problem. An increase in household income is not sufficient to reduce childhood malnutrition if children are deprived of food security, education, access to water, sanitation and health services. The highest prevalence of protein-energy under-nutrition is observed during early childhood, being also a time in which the presence of dental caries can be unusually aggressive. All systems in an organism are affected by protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), but one of the worst affected is the hematopoietic system. Globally 10-11 million under five deaths occur each year out of which around 60% are due to malnutrition In India 2.5 million under fives die each year. Prevalence of under five malnutrition in various states of India reveals that Orissa as the highest prevalence (55%) of fives in Orissa are under nourished out of which 25% are severely under nourished.

TITLE

          “A experimental study to evaluate the effectiveness of protein supplementation among pre-school children with various degree of protein energy malnutrition at selected community in kozhikode.”

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 

•   To assess the degrees of protein energy malnutrition among pre-school children with protein energy malnutrition at selected community in Kozhikode.

•   To evaluate the effectiveness of protein supplementation among pre-school children with various degree of protein energy malnutrition at selected community in Kozhikode.

•   To associate the degree of protein energy malnutrition among pre-school children with selected demographic variables at selected community in Kozhikode.

METHODOLOGY:

The true experimental study design was adopted to evaluate the effectiveness of protein supplementation in difference of anthropometric measurement among pre-school children with PEM. The General System Theory was adopted for conceptual frame work.

A total of 10 pre-school children with PEM were selected by using non probability purposive sampling techniques in the village of Kozhikode.

          The instrument used for the study was a standard scale for measuring anthropometry. Instrument consists of two sections. The first section consists of the demographic variables of the pre-school child with PEM and the second section consists of standard scale for assessing weight, height, mid-arm circumference, head and chest circumference. Gomez classification was used to classify degree of malnutrition. Data collection method adopted was Bio-physiological method (in-vitro). Height, weight, head circumference, mid-arm circumference, and chest circumference was obtained 1^st day of data collection and 200 ml of milk, 2 boiled eggs and  50 gm of boiled ground nut was supplemented daily for 15 days and 16^th day anthropometrics was obtained from the same group.  The data were analyzed using the descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULT:

          According to Gomez criteria of degree of malnutrition it was found that in pre-test 2 child were belongs to 1^st degree PEM, 3 child were 2^nd degree PEM and 5 child were in 3^rd degree PEM. In post test 4 child belongs to 1st degree PEM, 4 child were 2^nd degree PEM and remaining children were in 3^rd degree PEM.  

          There was significant difference exit between pre test and post test score of anthropometric measurements of preschool children with various degrees of PEM. It was statistically tested by paired ‘t’ value and the result found to be significant at p<0.001 level.

          There was significant association exit between sex of the child, economic status of the family and past history of diarrhoeal disease with degrees of protein energy malnutrition.

CONCLUSION:

          The study concluded that there is improvement in anthropometric measurement of pre-school children with PEM after protein supplementation as well as this study concludes that daily protein supplementations are having positive impact in improving the child from various degree of protein energy malnutrition.  

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