Assessment of Awareness and Nutritional Status of Rural Community: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: COVID-19 Pandemic had led to an unprecedented emergency which many transformations in all aspects of life including dietary practices. A good and balanced die played a crucial role prevention disease faster recovery. For practice, knowledge awareness is needed. Even the SDG 2 deals with food, nutrition curbing hunger. The purpose this study was explore habits nutritional content everyday meals among rural communities as well assess status physical activity.
 Methods: This observational cross-sectional conducted amongst community from two zones Jalgaon district, Maharashtra April June 2022. Convenience sampling sample size 40 households residing used. head family each household were surveyed using pre-designed pre-tested structured questionnaire. tool used daily food consumption, assessment activities participants. also determined at people's what diet concept/effects malnutrition addition anthropometric measurements. Data entered spreadsheet analysis done Microsoft excel descriptive statistics.
 Results: Of those surveyed, regarding awareness, it found that 92% 82% subjects have not even heard term "Balanced diet" “Malnutrition” respectively. BMI ranges subjects, showed majority (22, 55%) participants normal BMI, followed by (13, 32.5%) underweight i.e. below 18.5 (5; 12.5%) pre-obese category, above 25. It observed individuals undertake around 8 hrs activity per day on average. Regarding pattern, noted still follow follows traditional wisdom ancestral roots. Due poverty lack resources, they tend stick whatever affordable locally available.
 Conclusion: Considering significant unawareness observed, we conclude Government’ plans efforts security will be more successful if raising public about significance first step regard. right health can only reach areas when index these enhanced utilizing available tools approaches.