Assessing Food Expenditure Patterns and Nutritional Status of Rural Women: Evidence from Mulugu District, Telangana, India

Abstract

Rural women engaged in agriculture play a pivotal role in household food production and consumption decisions. However, their own nutritional well-being is often compromised due to socio-economic constraints, limited dietary diversity, and lack of access to nutrition-related information. This study aimed to assess the food expenditure and consumption patterns and key socio-economic and behavioral factors influencing dietary practices of rural agricultural women in Mulugu district, Telangana, India. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 120 women from eight randomly selected villages across Mangapet and Eturnagaram mandals. Respondents were categorized into low, medium, and high food expenditure groups. Data were collected through structured interviews using 24-hour dietary recall, food frequency questionnaires, and anthropometric measurements. Statistical analysis included correlation to explore relationships between nutritional status and socio-economic variables. The majority of respondents (69.17 percent) belonged to the medium food expenditure group. Diets were heavily cereal-based particularly rice, onions were consumed daily, the intake of green leafy vegetables, fruits, milk, and animal-source foods remained limited. Eggs were the most frequently consumed animal product, while fruit consumption was notably low, indicating poor dietary diversity. Despite these limitations, 65.83 percent of women had a normal Body Mass Index (BMI), potentially due to high physical activity levels associated with agricultural labor. Significant correlations were observed between nutritional status and several variables, including food expenditure, food frequency, and information-seeking behavior. The findings underscore the need for nutrition-sensitive interventions that enhance dietary diversity and increase nutritional awareness to promote the health and well-being of rural women.