Food consumption and energy expenditure pattern of self employed women in unorganised sector

Abstract

A study on the “Food consumption and energy expenditure pattern of self employed women in unorganized sector” was conducted to assess the socio-economic and food consumption and energy expenditure pattern of the women engaged in stone breaking.

150 household surveyed were representing scheduled caste and other backward communities. The families were of nuclear type with four members in the family.

Rice, tapioca, fish and coconut were found to be the major ingredients in their daily meal pattern. No special foods were provided during physiological conditions.

On an average they engaged in stone breaking for about 8 hours / day and for 5 to 6 days in a week. Time spent for various activities viz. for personal care, child care and leisure was not adequate. The difficulties imposed on these home makers due to the dual role were improper care of the family, inability to cope with the household work and lack of time for child care. Due to economic reasons they engaged in stone breaking even during pregnancy till term and after delivery most of them took their children to the work site.

Their actual food and nutrient intake was found to be unsatisfactory which was reflected in their low body weights and prevalence of many nutritional disorders especially anaemia. All the women were found to have a negative energy balance.

Knowledge of these women on health and nutrition was found to be satisfactory and statistical analysis indicated that age had a negative significant correlation and education had a positive significant correlation with the knowledge of the women regarding food and health.

Attitude of the women towards this occupation was found to be positive since this was considered to be a solution to the unemployment problem. Statistical treatment of the data revealed that age has a negative correlation and educational level of the women had a a significant positive correlation with the attitude of women towards this work.