Informatics Publishing Limited

Rajammal P. Devadas ¹, S. Jamala ¹, V. Amudha Surabhi ¹, Nirmala K. Murthy ¹

Affiliations
1 Sri Avinashilingam Home Science College for Women, Coimbatore-641 O11, IN

Abstract

Malnutrition interferes with a child's motivation, power of concentration and learning capacity. It results in the poor school performance of the child and low aspiration to higher education. Therefore only 40 per cent of the pupils entering the primary schools reach the fourth grade, which is the minimum to achieve lasting literacy. Thus malnutrition has become the primary cause for the huge educational waste. Hence this study was conducted to investigate the effects of malnutrition on mental abilities of selected children, five to eight years of age, in a selected rural area, and to study the changes in their mental abilities and nutritional status, after improving their diets.

Full Text

     

Rajammal P. Devadas ¹, S. Jamala ¹, Usha Chandrasekhar ¹, Nirmala K. Murthy ¹

Affiliations
1 Sri Avinashilingam Home Science College for Women, Coimbatore-641011, IN

Abstract

Upto the first sixth month of age, breast milk is adequate for meeting the calorie and nutrient requirements of the infant. Thereafter, the breast milk supply is inadequate to meet the requirements. However, no supplementary food is generally given to infants in India until the age of two years. The only items given, sometimes, in addition to the mother's milk are, over diluted cow's milk with very little other foods such as cooked rice in the form of gruel.

Full Text

     

P. Parvathi Easwaran ¹, Srilatha Gopinath ¹, S. Jamala ¹, Rajammal P. Devadas ¹

Affiliations
1 Sri Avinashilingam Home Science College, Coimbatore-II, IN

Abstract

The diets consumed by a large majority of weaned infants and preschool children in India and other developing countries are based mainly on cereals, ischolar_mains and tubers and are lacking in protective foods such as milk, eggs, meat and fish. This serious dietary deficiency will damage the health, and growth of children and possibly impair their mental development.

Full Text