Tribal children grossly malnourished

  • | Wednesday | 12th December, 2018

“A primary health centre has been started recently to support the tribal community in Anaikatti,’’ he said.“ICDS is continuously monitoring the growth of tribal community. Doctors suggested me to take health supplements. More than 50% of children below the age of five years from tribal areas in and around Anaikatti have been found to be malnourished.Many of the children in the hamlets were also found to be underweight, stunted and suffered various skin diseases. In some families there were more than four children making it difficult for parents to provide them healthy food.Residents of the hamlets admit that they were aware that their children needed healthier food. A mother would feed the child before going to work and the kid is fed again only in the evening.

More than 50% of children below the age of five years from tribal areas in and around Anaikatti have been found to be malnourished.Many of the children in the hamlets were also found to be underweight, stunted and suffered various skin diseases. According to the study done by the department of community medicine of Coimbatore Medical College and PSG Institute of Medical Sciences, published in International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health in July this year, out of the 206 children studied, 105 were found malnourished. Several factors like lack of adequate and hygienic food, socio–economic status, illiteracy and lack of awareness on the need for nutritional supplements are attributed as the reasons.“Parents of these children do not utilize the health support provided by the government under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme that provides prenatal and postnatal care,” said S K Senthilkumar, one of the authors of the study from Coimbatore Medical College.“Children in the age group of 0-5 years are vulnerable. They were prone to diarrhea and infections. Vegetables, fruits and tubers must be a part of their balanced diet. Breastfeeding up to 1.5 years along with complementary foods from six months can prevent malnourishment among tribal children,’’ he said.Dr K Suvetha, another author of the study from PSG Institute of Medical Sciences, said socio-economic status was also a cause where the child might not be fed properly with healthy food. In some families there were more than four children making it difficult for parents to provide them healthy food.Residents of the hamlets admit that they were aware that their children needed healthier food. “All of us are working. A mother would feed the child before going to work and the kid is fed again only in the evening. Many women become pregnant with the second child even before the feeding time for the first child is over,” S Paapa, a resident of Koodanur hamlet, said.Most of the women in the village have taken prenatal care from the anganwadis but have refused to follow the health supplements, which doctors point out to be a cause for nutritional deficiency in children.“I went for regular checkup from my first trimester. Doctors suggested me to take health supplements. I didn’t take them after a month. I felt disgusting to eat all those tablets,” Kavitha A, the mother of an underweight child, said.“I have seen people throwing the multigrain health mix (sathu maavu) given by the anganwadis on road,” said another resident Parvathy.Staff at the anganwadi in the locality said the tribals do not acknowledge their support and they do not come for immunization.“People fear to take English medicine. They avoid immunization as it causes fever. Hence we try to convince them or forcefully immunize their children” said an anganwadi worker.Dr Mary Sugantha, a former government doctor now working for tribal healthcare in Valparai said even adults among tribal communities suffer poor health.“Poor nutrition is a major factor because iron-rich greens like spinach does not grow in higher altitudes and tribals can’t afford eggs, milk, dry fruits,” she said.T Rajalakshmi, a government nurse in Valparai said most of the tribal women avoid taking the tablets and folic acid provided by the government due to taboos.Director of Public Health P Kulandaisamy said the government has done a lot to improve tribal health care. “A primary health centre has been started recently to support the tribal community in Anaikatti,’’ he said.“ICDS is continuously monitoring the growth of tribal community. But I also agree it must be improved further,” he added.

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