Ecology Of Malnutrition
Malnutrition is a health problem with multiple facets. D.B. Jelliffe has identified groups of ecological factors related to malnutrition.
1. Conditioning influences
These include factors which are indirectly related /associated with malnutrition. These make the person/community more susceptible to malnutrition. In developing countries infections like diarrhea, measles, whooping cough, malaria, tuberculosis and intestinal parasites come in the category. The infections predispose malnutrition by increasing the loss of nutrients (as in diarrhea and worm infestation), increasing the requirements due to metabolic changes (as in measles), and affecting utilization of ingested Nutrients (as in diarrhea).
These include factors which are indirectly related /associated with malnutrition. These make the person/community more susceptible to malnutrition. In developing countries infections like diarrhea, measles, whooping cough, malaria, tuberculosis and intestinal parasites come in the category. The infections predispose malnutrition by increasing the loss of nutrients (as in diarrhea and worm infestation), increasing the requirements due to metabolic changes (as in measles), and affecting utilization of ingested Nutrients (as in diarrhea).
2. Cultural practices.
Cultural practices related to malnutrition include food habits, customs, beliefs, traditions, food fads, cooking practices etc. These have bearing on the nutritional status of individual and community. In general these practices can be classified into three groups
a) Harmful :based on current knowledge, some practices can certainly be considered as harmful like eating kesaridal, eating peeled potatoes, excess washing of rice with water etc.
b) Neutral: based on current knowledge some practices are neither beneficial nor can be considered harmful like tongue feeding of infants, applying oil on the body of infants.
c) Beneficial: these include the age old practices which have been found to be definitely beneficial like parboiling of rice, consuming cereals with pulses.
Cultural practices related to malnutrition include food habits, customs, beliefs, traditions, food fads, cooking practices etc. These have bearing on the nutritional status of individual and community. In general these practices can be classified into three groups
a) Harmful :based on current knowledge, some practices can certainly be considered as harmful like eating kesaridal, eating peeled potatoes, excess washing of rice with water etc.
b) Neutral: based on current knowledge some practices are neither beneficial nor can be considered harmful like tongue feeding of infants, applying oil on the body of infants.
c) Beneficial: these include the age old practices which have been found to be definitely beneficial like parboiling of rice, consuming cereals with pulses.
3. Socio economic practices
The common socio economic factors, which are associated with the undernutrition in various nutrition surveys, are female illiteracy, low socioeconomic condition, caste and income. These factors show association with malnutrition both at individual and community level. Low socio economic conditions and large family leads to poor availability of food especially to vulnerable sections like children and mothers.
The common socio economic factors, which are associated with the undernutrition in various nutrition surveys, are female illiteracy, low socioeconomic condition, caste and income. These factors show association with malnutrition both at individual and community level. Low socio economic conditions and large family leads to poor availability of food especially to vulnerable sections like children and mothers.
4. Food production
In India, the per capita availability of cultivable land and food production per hectare is far that of the developed countries. There is gross requirement or production deficiency in respect of pulses, vegetable milk and fat. There is also a deficiency of cereals. It has been aptly said that there is a food gap in developing countries and not the “protein gap’.
In India, the per capita availability of cultivable land and food production per hectare is far that of the developed countries. There is gross requirement or production deficiency in respect of pulses, vegetable milk and fat. There is also a deficiency of cereals. It has been aptly said that there is a food gap in developing countries and not the “protein gap’.
5. Health services
The health services related to nutritional disorders can be considered in two groups. Those addressing directly to the problems include Nutritional Surveillance, Nutritional Rehabilitation, Nutritional Supplementation and Health Education. The health services excluding the services mentioned, in general can be considered in the second group. Services related to the diseases like diarrhea disorders, measles, whooping cough, malaria and tuberculosis can be considered especially in this group.
The health services related to nutritional disorders can be considered in two groups. Those addressing directly to the problems include Nutritional Surveillance, Nutritional Rehabilitation, Nutritional Supplementation and Health Education. The health services excluding the services mentioned, in general can be considered in the second group. Services related to the diseases like diarrhea disorders, measles, whooping cough, malaria and tuberculosis can be considered especially in this group.
6. Mother’s Education
Educations of the Mother also directly affect the Nutrition status of the child.
Educations of the Mother also directly affect the Nutrition status of the child.
7. Type of family
Depends upon types of family.
Depends upon types of family.
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