NFHS 4 vis-à-vis NFHS 5: Progress in Maharashtra on key indicators

The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is an important source of information on the periodic progress made on several key health indicators. Among other things, the survey tracks nutritional status of mother and child and the quality of antenatal and post-natal services at the state and district level. Recently, the NFHS 5 data (Phase-1) was released for select states and their districts facilitating for the first time a panel data analysis at the district level.

Making India malnutrition free – taking the LAGAAN approach

Lagaan was a path-breaking movie. It showed how an underdog can emerge victorious against all odds given unity, focus and right skills or training. It was also path breaking as a communication tool using a one-day cricket narrative, for a pre-independence era story. We could fruitfully use this narrative to plan for a malnutrition free India

Supporting healthy growth in infants in low-resource settings in Mumbai, India

Supportinghealthy growthin infants inlow-resourcesettings inMumbai, India By Rupal Dalal, Shruthi Iyer, Marian Abraham and Lahari Yaddanapudi Location: Mumbai, India What we know: Maternal undernutrition, low birth weight and growth failure in early infancy contribute to wasting, stunting and underweight. What this article adds: The Foundation for Mother and Child Health (FMCH) is a Read More …

A qualitative assessment of barriers and facilitators to implementing recommended infant nutrition practices in Mumbai, India

Authors: Priyanka Athavale, Kristin Hoeft, Rupal M. Dalal, Ameya P. Bondre, Piyasree Mukherjee & Karen Sokal-Gutierrez  Abstract Background Childhood malnutrition has been a longstanding crisis in Mumbai, India. Despite national IYCF (Infant Young Child Feeding) guidelines to promote best practices for infant/toddler feeding, nearly one-third of children under age five are stunted or underweight. To improve Read More …

Minimum Diet Diversity and Minimum Meal Frequency – Do They Matter Equally? Understanding IYCF Practices in India

Authors: Ayushi Jain, Muneer Kalliyil, Satish Agnihotri Abstract Objectives Infant and Young Child Feeding practices, mainly, complementary feeding in children between 6 months and two years of age, is found to be sub-optimal and emerge as the weakest link in improving child nutrition outcomes in India. Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD), comprising of Read More …

Food supplement for moderate acute malnourished children (6-59 months)

Authors: Anchal Purbey, Amit Arora, Satish B. Agnihotri Presented at: 2nd International NIN Centenary Conference, 11th-13th November, 2018 Aim and Objectives: To develop a nutritious and safe supplementary product, yet affordable that caters to the requirement of moderate acute malnourished children. • Developing nutritious food formulations to treat MAM children Read More …

Malnutrition free India: Worm’s eye view

Purbey, A., Tomar, M. S., & Agnihotri, S. B. (2018)
High levels of maternal and child undernutrition in India have persisted, despite constitutional provisions, legislative policies and plans. This study, based on personal observations and information collected from three different tribal settings in India, examines the ground realities highlighting the need to focus on district action plans. It further suggest the need to go down to block and village level to address issues that don’t get highlighted from a national or state level perspective. What has been envisaged in the nutrition policy and programme at the macro level can be different from the actual practices in the field. The study brings out that reality.