District Level Child and Women Nutritional Status in Andhra Pradesh State of India-Food Based Intervention Options for Improvement and Associated Issues

Abstract

In this study, an attempt has been made to analyse changes in district level child and women nutritional status in Andhra Pradesh, using two latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data pertaining to years 2015-16 and 2019-20.  Computing standardized undernutrition, over nutrition and anaemia index, priority districts under the three nutritional issues were identified.  Regression analysis indicated that per capita income was able to explain only very low percentage of variation in various nutritional indicators across the districts. Then progress in ongoing efforts towards improving nutritional status through distribution of fortified rice, and development of bio-fortified varieties are documented and associated issues were discussed. Need for co-ordination between different food-based programs for nutritional security, building specific value chains targeting specific consumer category, enforcement of food safety and monitoring mechanisms for proper compliance and implementation of the programs, were identified for accelerating improvement in nutritional status in the state.