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International Journal of Recent Trends in Science and Technology, ISSN 2277-2812 E-ISSN: 2249-8109

Volume 3, Issue 3, 2012 pp 63-64

Research Article

School Children as �Messengers� for Improving Vitamin A Knowledge and Practices in Urban Slums.

Pradip Sawardekar, Gopa Kothari, Madhavi Marathe

Child Eye Care Charitable Trust and S.N.D.T. Women�s University, Mumbai (MS) INDIA.

Academic Editor:  Dr. Aher K. R.

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is still a significant public health problem in India among children. Deliberate and sustained nutrition education has been recognized as a potent tool for prevention and control of VAD. Children being future parents need to be aware of good nutrition and therefore it is important to provide nutrition education to them. Objective: To educate school children to initiate change in knowledge and practices with a specific focus on vitamin A deficiency. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in selected slums in Mumbai. Western India. 50 school going children and their mothers were selected for the study. Questionnaire, individual interviews and focus group discussions were employed to collect data from both the groups at the baseline. Participatory learning techniques and group dynamics approach were used during education the sessions. Results: The knowledge scores of the children showed a significant change (P<0.001) after the intervention. There was significant increase in weekly frequency of consumption of YOVs (P<0.5). The mothers were aware of vitamin A foods (87.5%) and its deficiency (68.8%) after the intervention. Conclusion: Children can be used as messengers for spreading nutritional messages and promoting vitamin A foods. Involvement of mothers in nutrition education has compounding effect.