Content and objectives of the report from the dietary study 1981
When the results from the research done during the first phases of PTV were about to be applied, a study was made in Chikal. The report from the study has as goal to specify need and supply of food in Chikal. It contains two parts, the first is an evaluation of the nutritional status of the Chikal people, together with an evaluation of their food consumption, the second is a sensoric test by the villagers of different varieties of millet, beans, sesame seeds and groundnuts.
At the evaluation of nutritional status it is said that the first step has been to identify the main dietary problems in Chikal, to later be able to do something about them.
Criteria and results from the anthropometric measurements 1981
The lack of analytical laboratories has made it necessary to restrain to anthropometric measurements (quote: "Le fait même que l'on a pas encore pleinement développer de laboratoires dans la region, restreint la methodologie que l'on pourrait appliquer pour identifier les problèmes. Et c'est pour cela que l'on s'est contenter de simples mensurations anthropometriques et d'examens cliniques de la population). Since the first observations suggested that the grown up population did not have any manifested problems, the effort has been put into the age group under 16 yeas of age, since it was supposed that the children were the part of the population that was nutritionally at worst (quote: la couche de population la plus mal nourrie était probablement les enfants). The children were chosen randomly and were examined at the PTV literacy centre or at the school. As the criteria of malnutrition for children under one year of age was chosen the circumference of the upper arm. Children with an upper arm circumference below 13,2 cm were considered malnourished (third grade, e.g. marastic) according to Laugesen. As the criteria of malnutrition for children over the age of one weight for length was chosen, where those in the age group 2 to 10 years of age that were below the third percentile according to WHO and those in the age group 11 to 15 years of age below the fifth percentile according to "Nutrition Canada" were considered malnourished. Of 200 children, boys and girls equal share, these criteria gives that one third is malnourished.
Results from 1981 of clinical examinations
Clinical examinations were also done, where among others three children were found to have opaque iris (probably vitamin A deficiency, quote: "Bien qu'a l'heure actuelle on ne puisse confirmer ce diagnostique, il semble provenir d'une carence de vitamine A"), seven children were found to have goitre, all between the ages of 9 and 15 except for a three year old (low content of iodine in the soil) and tooth problems among many (low mineral intake).
Evaluation of the food consumption 1981
The evaluation of the food consumption was superficial (quote: "Un examin superficiel du régime alimentaire et des modes de consommation des enfants scolarisés a été fait.") and included interviews with school children where it was found that most of the children went to school without or with very little breakfast. A conflict between the traditional dietary patterns and the school hours existed.
Extract from the ending discussion in the dietary study 1981
In the ending discussion it was found that malnutrition in Chikal is obvious since one third of the individuals are malnourished and have little subcutaneous fat. It is mentioned that the problem starts after six moths of age, there is little or none dietary additions and the weaning is abrupt. This makes the it is the bigger sucklings and the pre-school children that suffers from nutrient deficiency. It is said that deficiency of vitamin A is most common, after that riboflavin or niacin and finally vitamin C. It is believed that the lack of fresh vegetables, fruits and meat in the diet contributes to the observed problems of vitamin deficiency. It is said that the goitre among the children has long term effects regarding the capability to learn and to grow.
Summary taken from the report of the 1981 dietary study
As a summary it is said that marasm, protein-energy-deficiency (SACP), and deficiency in vitamin A, riboflavin and ascorbic acid has been found during the investigation period January-February 1981. Also fluorisis is suspected. As possible or probable causes the following are mentioned:
1 insufficient food ratios and lack of variation in the food supply
2 lack of food rich in vitamin A, B and C
3 lack of iodine in the soil
4 excess of fluoride in the soil
5 lack of calcium and tooth hygiene among some of the small children
6 lack of water, problems due to bad hygiene and lack of sanitary equipment
7 abrupt weaning and lack of weaning food in certain cases
Laugesen, M.: Child's bangle for the diagnosis of undernutrition. Nursing J. India, Aug.1975.
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