INTRODUCTION: In most developing countries the majority of the population the rural population especially does not receive

even the most basic health care or any nutritional advice. Nutrition (is nourishment or aliment) is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary (in the form of food) to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet.

DEFINATION: Nutrition may be defined as the science of food and its relationship to health.
Age group 0-4 yr 5-9 yrs. 10-14 yrs. 15-19 yrs. 20-59 yrs. 60+ yrs. Pregnant Lactating Males (kcal/day) 1320 1980 2370 2700 2460 2010 Females
(kcal/day)

Average
(kcal/day)

% of pop.
12.37% 11.69% 10.53% 9.54% 48.63 7.24 2.4% 2.6%

1250 1730 2040 2120 1990 1780

285 (extra) 500 (extra)

1290 1860 2210 2420 2230 1890

B s d o W O te h ic l R p rt N . 7 4 a d U P p D ta m 1 9 ae n H cn a eo o 2 n N o . a , id 9 5

MAIN ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY NUTRITION: Demographic structure of the community. Nutritional policy of the particular community. Production of food grains and other products. Availability of the food at the grass-root level of the community.

Purchasing capacity of the community. Need of special groups. Community nutrition programmes. Role of Government / NGO in community about nutrition. Food hygiene and food laws. COMMON NUTRITIONAL PROBLEMS: LOW BIRTH WEIGHT : (Birth weight less than 2500gms.30% 0f babies born in India is LBW) PROTEIN ENERGY MALNUTRITION(PEM) : refers to the deficiency of energy and protein in the body. 1-2% of preschool children in India suffer from PEM. XEROPHTHALMIA(DRY EYE) : Due to deficiency of Vitamin A , is most common in children aged 1-3 years Cornea and conjunctiva become horny and necrosed. NUTRITIONAL ANEMIA : Condition in which the Hb content of blood lower than normal as a result of a deficiency of one or more essential nutrients primarily due to lack of absorbable iron in the diet. IODINE DEFICIENCY DISORDERS (IDD) : Refers to a disabling conditions arising from an inadequate dietary intake of iodine. IDD affects the health of humans from fetal stage to adulthood causes Goiter. FLUROSIS: Occurs due to consumption of excessive amount of fluorine through drinking water .Two types of flurosis Dental Flurosis & Skeletal flurosis. OBESITY: When the body weight is 20% more than the desirable weight. CARDIO VASCULAR DISEASES : DIABETES: ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS: The assessment methods include the following methods; Clinical examination. Anthropometry. Biochemical evaluation.

Functional assessment. Assessment of Dietary intake. Vital and health statistics. Ecological study. COMMUNITY NUTRITION PROGRAMMES: VITAMIN A PROPHYLAXIS PROGRAMME(1970): Programme launched by Ministry of H&FW. Component of National programme for control of blindness by administer of single massive dose of oily preparation of Vitamin A containing 200000 IU orally to all preschool children in the community every 6 months through peripheral health workers. PROPHYLAXIS AGAINST NUTRITIONAL ANAEMIA: Launched by Govt.of India during 4th five year plan. Distribution of iron and folic acid tablets to pregnant women and young children (1-12 years ) MCH centers and ICDS projects implement this programme IODINE DEFICIENCY DISORDER PROGRAMME: (1962) Focuses on use of Iodized Salt Replace of common salt with iodized salt, cheapest method to control IDD use of Iodized tablets iodine tablets administered to school children ,use of Iodized oil 1ml Inj of Iodized oil to those suffering from IDD, Oral administration as prophylaxis in IDD severe areas Mass communication Public awareness through mass media and public health programmes. INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICE (ICDS): Was launched on 2nd October, 1975 (5th Five year Plan) in pursuance of the National Policy For Children. Beneficiaries 1. Children below 6 years 2. Pregnant and lactating women 3. Women in the age group of 15-44 years 4. Adolescent girls in selected blocks. Objectives 1. Improve the nutrition and health status of children in the age group of 0-6 years

2. Lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child; 3. Effective coordination and implementation of policy among the various departments. 4. Enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutrition needs through proper nutrition and health education.

DAY MEAL PROGRAMME (MDMP) 1961: Also known as School launch programme. Objective to attract more children for admission to schools. Principles of Mid Day Meal programme: The meal should be supplement and not a substitute to home diet. The meal should supply at least one third of the total energy requirement and half of the protein needed The cost of meal should be reasonably low. The Meal should be prepared easily in schools, no complicating cooking procedures involved Locally available foods should be used The menu should be frequently changed. Mid Day Meal programme Recommendations: Cereals 75gm/day/child Pulses 30 gm/day/child Oils and fats 8 gm/day/child Leafy vegetables 30gm/day/child Non leafy vegetables 30gm/day/child

BALWADI NUTRITION PROGRAMME (1970) : Nutritional support to preschool children, started under the department of Social welfare for children age group 3-6 years in rural areas. Programme implemented through Balwadis which also provide pre-primary education, Food supplements 300kcal and 10grams of protein per child per day. RESPONSIBILITIES OF NURSE IN NUTRITION EDUCATION: Assessing the health status of the individual, family and the

community. Making and early diagnosis of nutritional disease and deficiencies in their treatment. Playing special nutrition attention of the vulnerable groups: children, pregnant and lactating women. Telling the importance of kitchen garden. Imparting applied nutrition education using modern and attractive techniques. She needs to impart the knowledge of importance of good nutrition without hurting their cultural habits. She needs to use all media of health education in nutrition education. Nutrition education can address an extremely wide range of content issues related food and nutrition. The primary content issues are personnel health such as diet relationships between diet and health, healthful eating. How to get the best nutrition with in ones budget, food safety breast feeding. Reducing diet related chronic diseases of nutrition. Balancing eating and physical activity. Concern about the increasing incidence and food borne illness, or about genetically engineered food. Bovine growth hormone in milk. Nutritional professionals have become interested in issues related. - How and where food is produced. CONCLUSION: Since health and nutrition of the young child is indivisible from the health and nutrition of the family as a whole, there is now increasing recognition that it is only through an improvement of the family diet as a whole, that the diet of the young child in the poor family can be improved.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Dr. M. Swaminathan ; Hand book of Food And Nutrition ; 5th Edition ; Bappco Bangalore Printing and Publication; 2004; Page number, 214-37. K. Park ; Text Book Of Preventive And Social Medicine ; 18th Edition ; Banarasidas Bhanot Publishers; 2005; Page number, 329-438. K. Park ;Essentials of Community Health Nursing; 4h Edition ; Banarasidas Bhanot Publishers; January 2004; Page number, 89-129.