Evaluation of the Nutritional Status of Khasi Children under ICDS Programme in Mawsynram Block of East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya

The present study is concerned with the evaluation of the nutritional status of Khasi children under the ICDS Programme in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya. A cross-sectional method of anthropometric study was carried out in 2018-19 for evaluating the nutritional status of 549 children aged 2-6 years, using weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height Z-scores relative to the WHO growth references. The findings were compared with those of the monitoring study carried out in 2008-09 by the Government of Meghalaya in collaboration with the Department of Anthropology, North-Eastern Hill University. It was found that the overall mean Z-scores for weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height were significantly higher among boys and girls in 2018-19 compared with their coevals in 2008-09. The prevalence of underweight has decreased from 42% in 2008-09 to 22% in 2018-19; whereas the prevalence of stunting has declined from 52% in 2008-09 to 33% in 2018- 19. The prevalence of wasting has also declined from 12% in 2008-09 to 7% in 2018-19, but about 4% of the children were overweight. The decline in the prevalence of undernutrition may be associated with the overall socioeconomic development in the state during the last decade or so, and the impact of the ICDS Programme cannot also be ruled out. While interventions are still necessary to reduce child underweight and stunting; simultaneous preventive measures to control child overweight and obesity may also be initiated in the state.