NATIONAL NUTRITION SURVEY

Details

This survey is a comprehensive first-ever survey by the Ministry of health and family welfare and the United Nations children fund for measuring malnutrition. The survey was conducted for measuring and recording the micronutrient deficiencies. Still, this survey also gave additional details on non-communicable diseases which includes diabetes, hypertension etc. in children and adolescents. There were a few key findings reported during the survey they are as follows:

1. It was found in the survey that 10% of the children and adolescents between the age group of 5-9 years and 10-19 years were pre-diabetic.

2. And those age groups mentioned above were suffering from overweight and blood pressure, which was approximately recorded as 5%.

3. It was recorded in the same survey that many of the school-going children suffered from obesity and undernutrition.

Reason for implementation

The National Nutrition Survey is different from the National health survey. This Scheme was implemented to measure malnutrition. Nutrition is very important for human development. Despite the progress happening in the economy and agriculture these days yet nearly 40% of the children below the age of 5 are stunned and nearly 66%, i.e., if we take it in the form of ratio for every five children three are suffering from anaemia. India ranks 3rd in the developing country while recording the percentage of stunted growth in the children. Due to under nutrition in childhood and adolescence the survival, development and growth diminish and the deficiencies of micronutrients is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in both infants and preschool children. Even the mild deficiency of micronutrients can lead to several problems like poor physical growth, decreased work productivity in adulthood etc.

Causes

This survey is conducted in all the states of India. The following are the causes of why the survey is conducted:

1. During the time of 1996 to 2016, the children below the age of 5 years suffered from chronic malnutrition and stunting so to facilitate them this survey was brought into action.

2. Many of the public health experts raised concerns about the adoption of new approaches to address the problem of nutrition, so hence few ready to use therapeutic foods were provided to malnourished children.

3. Considering the education status of the women and her lack of knowledge concerning the nutrition to be given to children caused several problems. And resulted in several diseases to the born child.

Effects

The National Nutrition Survey will give important findings for malnutrition, anaemia and other deficiencies among the children and adolescents. This survey helped in the decrease in infant mortality rate and also decreased the disease caused due to deficiency. It also shares the data nationwide on micronutrients such as vitamin A, iodine, Vitamin B12, Zinc etc.  

Conclusion

Due to this survey, the parent was given written knowledge about the nutrition required for the children, which did not cause malnutrition to the new-born kids. Generally, malnutrition is caused due to lack of development, and the presence of malnutrition means that the basic needs are not met. So hence by this survey, all this will be fulfilled, and hence there will be a decrease in the mortality rate of the infants.