Efficacy of Post-Natal Nutrition Counselling on The Nutrient Intake and Haematological Profile of Rural Lactating Punjabi Mothers

Sixty rural Punjabi women aged between 18-33 years from low socio-economic group were selected front three villages of Ludhiana district during first month or lactation. The subjects were divided equally into Experimental (E) and Control (C) groups Nutrition counselling was carried out in vernacular through lectures. demonstrations. visual aids etc. to the E group. Inadequate make of cereals, pulses, fats and oils were observed during! and II month of lactation in both the groups Average energy intake in E and C group was 2248. 1934 Kcal and 234, 2009 Kcal during I and III months, respectively. All the subjects consumed diets inadequate in calories, fats. iron, riboflavin, niacin and folic acid but adequate in protein, calcium. retinol equivalent, thiamine and ascorbic acid Tie mean He levels in the two groups were 11.7+0.8. 9.5+0.5 and 11.9+0.7.99+04 g/dl during I and III months, respectively. It was observed that haematological profile improved significantly (P<0.03) in the E group during III month. Though there was significant (P < 0 05) improvement in the nutritional status of the subjects, but it did not meet the recommendations It could be due to low income, illiteracy. large family size, low availability of foods etc. There should be multiprolongcd nutrition counseling programme. keeping in view the cost benefit analysis and severe financial constraints in the developing countries especially in rural areas

Ascorbic acid · Biology · Breastfeeding · Calorie · Environmental health · folic acid · Functional illiteracy · Lactation · Malnutrition · Niacin · Nutrition Education · Pregnancy · Riboflavin · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Medicine · Food Science · Gerontology · Internal Medicine · Pediatrics