A Sociocultural Perspective on Malnutrition in Children: Evidence from POSHAN Programme, Rajasthan. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dandekar, Ajay; Sivaraman, Shobana; Gorla, Ishank; Ghai, Rahul; Mangal, D. K.; Gupta, Shiv Dutt
• Is Part Of: Journal of health management. Volume 23:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 315
• Page End: 326
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Dignified farm livelihoods and nutrition security -- political economy of malnutrition -- culturally accepted food supplement -- agro zone specific farming and indigenous food baskets; Health services administration -- India -- Periodicals; 362.1068
• DOI: 10.1177/09720634211011549
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0972-0634

Abstract

Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition or POSHAN Phase 2.0 was implemented in 20 districts of Rajasthan in 2018. After 12 weeks of outpatient therapeutic care of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), 70.4% children were cured, 12.2% defaulted and 17.4% were non-recovered and referred to Malnutrition Treatment Centres for facility treatment. The research study attempts to (a) study the sociocultural factors at the family level responsible for varying numbers of cured, defaulted and non-recovered SAM children at different localities; (b) explore the probability of the SAM children staying healthy post successful treatment at community settings without any external intervention; and (c) explore the possible approaches beyond the emergency medical response to develop a long-term strategy to address malnutrition in children. The insights and cues gained from the phenomenology of individual experiences help us understand the structural elements that undergird a healthy living. It was observed that irrespective of socio-demographic characteristics and food basket of a family, all the SAM children had a troubled medical history and/or low birth weight. The research findings also point out that a rise in income alone does not automatically lead to increased nutritional food intake. It is also important to see the issue of malnutrition in the larger context of the agrarian crisis that has cast its shadow over the rural landscape. For sustainable and lasting solutions, it is essential to shift to and promote farming practices that facilitate indigenous, locally produced and culturally acceptable nutrition from supplementary foods.