Effect of Bajra (Pennisetum glaucum) Based Supplementary Food on Anthropometric Parameters of School Children (5-6 Year Old)

Aims: To study the effect of bajra (Pennisetum glaucum) based supplementary food on anthropometric parameters of school going girl children.

Methodology: Two groups of 30 girl children in the age group of five to six year each were selected. Total number of children participated in the present study was 60. First group constituted non supplemented (control); the second group of children (experimental) was supplemented 100 g of bajra based supplementary food mix in the form of biscuits along with their home diet for a period of 100 days. The anthropometric parameters like height, weight, mid-upper arm circumference and waist hip ratio were measured before and after the administration of supplementary food. The data obtained from the study subjects were quantified, classified, tabulated and expressed in percentages. The paired ‘t’ test was used for pre and post treatments comparison.

Results: Among the two groups studied, highest increment in weight was recorded by the children on experimental group (0.7 kg) followed by an increment of 0.62 kg in control. After the supplementation for a period of 100 days, the mean height of the experimental group children increased slightly by 0.34 cm, whereas in the control group the mean height increase was only 0.12 cm for the same period. The mean increment in mid upper arm circumference of the selected children was 0.1 cm (control group) and 0.21 cm (experimental group). The presence of moderate malnutrition grade was decreased from 63 to 53 per cent and 44 to 40 per cent in control and experimental group, respectively. Normal children in control and experimental group increased after intervention from 3.0 per cent to 7.0 per cent and 20 to 23 per cent, respectively.

Conclusion: Supplementation with bajra based supplementary food mix has improved the anthropometric and clinical symptoms of the selected children. Long term feeding trials with supplementary food mix could improve the nutritional status of the children.