PhD

The study comprises evaluation of existing supplementary nutrition
component of IeDS and ascertaining the impact of newly developed food
supplement on the nutritional status of women beneficiaries of IeDS.
Assessment of programme efficiency of the existing
supplementary nutrition component of IeDS revealed lack of infra
structure facilities and basic facilities in many centres. Irregularity In
feeding was mainly due to delay in effecting the supply and due to
administrative constraints.
An attempt was made to standardise food supplement suitable for
lactating women beneficiaries. With this objective, 97 food formulations
were computed and from this 15 combinations were selected. From
among these 5 combinations with high nutritive value, amino acid score,
and chemical'score, were selected. Nutrient density, physiological
tolerance, shelf life qualities, organoleptic qualities and cost were the
major parameters administered to select the best combination.
Different r ec ip e s were standardised using the chosen food
supplement as the base mix. Nine point hedonic scale was administered to
select the suitable recipe, with the help of 50 experts at the institutional level.

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The acceptability of the same was tested at the field level through
preference studies among field level functionaries (50) and women
beneficiaries (100). Most acceptable recipe was selected for the feedipg
programme. A feeding experiment of 6 months duration was conducted
with selected recipe in 10 centres with 60 lactating women beneficiaries
where the evaluated food supplement was to replace the existing ICDS
supplement. In this feeding programme 60 beneficiaries of existing ICDS
programme in other centres formed CG.
Socio economic and demographic profile of the beneficiaries of
the two groups were elicited to ensure that there was no variation between
the two groups in this respect. Many beneficiaries were belonging to
nuclear type BPL families with 3 to 4 members and employed In
unorganised sector. The educational level and health profile with
reference to anthrompometric measurement of the beneficiaries were also
found uniform.
Assessment of food habits and nutrient intake revealed uniformity
in the inclusion of different foods and nutrient availability from the diet.
The feeding programme was conducted for six months. The impact of
the food supplement on the beneficiaries of EG revealed an improvement
in the anthrompometric measurements, clinical deficiency manifestations
and blood profile with reference to haemoglobin, serum protein, serum
albumin, serum iron and TIBC but this improvement was not observed
among the CG beneficiaries.