Food dietary intake and feeding practices in urban slums of visakhapatnam india
Busi, B.R.; Leela, M.S.; Babu, A.D.W.R.; Jyothi, G.M.
Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics 24(6): 163-169
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3174 Document Number: 211266
One hundred and thirteen families were studied for dietary intakes from five slums of Visakhapatnam. The per capita consumption was calculated using consumption units. The dietary intakes were assessed based on family size, income and occupation. Breast feeding was continued till five years. The supplementary feeding was started before one year in 75 per cent of children with little emphasis on proper weaning. The family size, income and occupation seem to have reasonable effects on dietary intake. The dietary intakes were good in small families and also better with increased income. Among different occupation groups, the fishing group showed good consumption pattern. With regular employment there was an even pattern of consumption of all kinds of foods. Rice was mainly consumed by all groups, with little use of all other foods. As such, the diets were deficient in all nutrients. It could be stated from this study that the dietary intake of slum dwellers of Visakhapatnam is not better than the slum dwellers of other cites in India.