Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status of Women in Rural Guntur District

Nutritional status of sixty women, who were either marginal farmers or landless agricultural workers were assessed by diet survey, anthropometry and estimation of haemoglobin levels. Diet survey carried out by the 24 hour recall method revealed adequate intake of calories and protein but low intake of micronutrients. While intake of vitamin C and the B vitamins were poor, iron and vitamin A were grossly deficient in the diet. Anthropometry showed heights and weights close to the mean height and weight values of Indian women. Body mass index was 22.5, indicating the absence of chronic energy malnutrition. Screening for haemoglobin levels showed that on the whole 93.4% of the women suffered from anaemia. However, micro nutrient malnutrition or “Hidden hunger” was very common with all micro nutrients especially iron, vitamin A, vitamin C and some extent the B-complex vitamins being grossly deficient.