B. C. Ashwini

Bio: B. C. Ashwini is an academic researcher from Agricultural & Applied Economics Association. The author has contributed to research in topics: Body mass index & Medicine. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 2 publications receiving 3 citations.

A quantile regression analysis of dietary diversity and anthropometric outcomes among children and women in the rural–urban interface of Bangalore, India

Abstract: Based on a primary survey conducted in the rural–urban interface of Bangalore, this study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between dietary diversity (DD) and anthropometric outcomes of young children (6 months – 5 years) (measured by weight-for-age (WAZ), weight-for-height (WHZ), and height-for-age (HAZ) z-scores), school-aged children (6–14 years) (measured by Body Mass Index (BMI) z-scores and HAZ scores), and women (15 years and above) (measured by BMI). We examine this association not just at the mean, but also at different points of the conditional distribution of anthropometric outcomes using the quantile regression (QR) method. We use six different measures of individual- and household-level DD to check whether the estimated association depends on the choice of the metric used. Our results show that increased DD is associated with higher z-scores at the lower quantiles of the WAZ distribution. In addition, we find a positive association between DD and upper quantiles of WHZ and BMI z-scores of young and school-aged children, respectively. Except for these, no other associations at any other quantile for any anthropometric outcome of young children, school-aged children, and women are consistently significant for various measures of DD. Our results suggest that policies that focus on improving DD might not be effective in improving (most) anthropometric outcomes especially in areas facing multiple burdens of malnutrition.

Food Consumption Pattern and Dietary Diversity in Rural-urban Interface of Bangalore

Abstract: The paper has examined the pattern of food consumption, dietary diversity and factors influencing dietary diversity across rural-urban interface of Bangalore. The study is based on the primary data of 510 households comprising of 189 rural, 211 transition and 110 urban households. Simpson Index of Dietary Diversity (SIDD) was employed to estimate the diversity in the consumption basket and to determine the factors influencing dietary diversity, the fractional probit model was used. The results showed that, higher cereal consumption was observed in rural area than in transition and urban areas and cereals were the prominent source of energy across all the gradients. The total calorie intake to the recommended calorie intake in urban, transition and rural area indicated that, the calorie intake in urban area was higher than the recommended intake (2100 Cal/CU/day) while, the scenario was opposite in transition and rural areas. This necessitates interventions to educate households to modify the existing purchasing behavior to reduce the gap between recommended Original Research Article Ashwini et al.; CJAST, 38(6): 1-8, 2019; Article no.CJAST.53260 2 and actual calorie intake. Further, the dietary diversity was analysed using SIDD, among the gradients, highest dietary diversity score was observed in urban (0.82) followed by transition (0.79) and rural gradients (0.77). Factors such as per capita income, access to irrigation and urban area had positive influence on dietary diversity. While, family size had negative influence on dietary diversity. Furthermore, among the different food items, cereals took major share in quantity consumption, calorie consumption and food consumption expenditure. On the other hand, diversity in consumption basket was marginally high in urban area.

Prevalence of malnutrition among women and adolescent girls: impact of urbanization in rural–urban interface of Bangalore

Abstract: PurposeIndia is facing a double burden of malnutrition, i.e. undernutrition and obesity. Women and adolescent health and nutrition are very relevant issues which have not received much attention it deserves in India, especially in the context of a girl child. Hence, the purpose of this study is to assess malnutrition among women and adolescent girls as well as the associated factors.Design/methodology/approachAn attempt was made to assess malnutrition among women and adolescent girls and associated factors. The required data was collected from the north (616) and south transects (659) sample households of Bangalore constituting a total sample size of 1,275. The data was analyzed by adopting multiple linear regression and multinomial logistic regression analysis using STATA software.FindingsThe effects of this study simply confirmed that, urbanization had an instantaneous effect on dietary repute of women and adolescent girls, while transferring throughout the gradient from rural to urban with the growing significance of weight problems and obese. In adolescent girls, about 31% were underweight followed by normal weight and overweight across rural–urban interface of Bangalore. The factors such as education, consumption of meat and animal products, a dummy for urban, diabetes and blood pressure were significantly and positively influencing the nutritional status (Body Mass Index) of women across rural–urban interface. While consumption of vegetables, wealth index and per capita income had a positive and significant influence on the nutritional status of adolescent girls.Originality/valueWith limited studies and data available in Karnataka, especially in Bengaluru, one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Against this backdrop, the study was conducted to assess the prevalence of malnutrition among women and adolescents and its association with various socio-economic variables.

Estimation of Growth Trends and Impact Assessment of National Food Security Mission on Chickpea Production in India

Abstract: The present study has been attempted to analyse the growth trends and impact assessment of NFSM-P on area, production and yield of chickpea in major states in India. The study was based on the secondary data pertaining to the year 1970-71 to 2014-15. To estimate growth trends, compound growth function was fitted and change in area, production and yield of chickpea during NFSM-P period (2008-09 to 201415) has been compared with preceding period (1990-91 to 2007-08) for impact assessment of NFSM-P on chickpea in the country. The results of the study indicated that chickpea area in India over the period has almost been stagnating (0.12%, statistically non-significant). The production of has increased at an annual rate of 1.12 per cent owing to the significant annual increase (1.00%) in chickpea yield. The results further highlighted emergence of niche area such as Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in chickpea production while area shrinkage from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh was also observed. The yield of chickpea in all the major states of India has shown positive growth during the study period. The effort of the government in the form of NFSM-P has positively impacted area, production and yield of chickpea in the country but increase in production was supported by area addition rather than yield improvement indicating need of technological advancement, improved yield varieties for enhancement of chickpea production in the country.

Analysis of the Influence of Rural Family Education Environment on School-Age Children's Social Behavior and Patterns

Abstract: Family education will have an important impact on children's body and psychology. It is different from social education and school education. It is mainly based on parents' words and deeds. Children enhance their life experience through the family's living atmosphere. Restricted by geographical conditions and economic level, family education is not given enough attention, and children's social behavior is more prone to problems. Therefore, rural primary more needed to pay attention to the impact of family education on children and promote the healthy development of children's physical health. Children's social disorder behavior is currently the most common phenomenon that hinders the normal development of children's interpersonal relationships in the physical and mental development of children in my country. This problem is not only reflected in the psychology of children with social disabilities, but also in normal children and children with social disabilities in daily social interactions. In the current product design market, a single product cannot comprehensively solve the practical problems encountered by children with social disabilities. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the possibility of experience design with multidimensional perspectives and multidisciplinary integration. This paper analyzes the current situation of children's social behavior in a rural family education environment and expounds the problems existing in rural family education and the impact of rural family education on children's social behavior. To provide a reference for improving children's social behavior in my country.

Dietary diversity, food insecurity and the double burden of malnutrition among children, adolescents and adults in South Africa: Findings from a national survey

Abstract: Childhood stunting remains a global public health problem. Many stunted children live in the same household as overweight or obese adults (the so-called double burden of malnutrition), evidence that quality as well as quantity of food is important. In recent years, food security measurement has shifted away from anthropometry (e.g., stunting) to experiential measures (e.g., self-reported hunger). However, given the continued problem of stunting, it is important that national surveys identify malnutrition. Objectives To examine the associations between a variety of food security indicators, including dietary diversity, with adult, child (0–4 years) (5–9 years) and adolescent (10–17 years) anthropometry. To estimate the prevalence of double burden households. Methods The study utilized cross-sectional data from the South African National Income Dynamics Survey NIDS (2008). We examined the associations between five food security indicators and anthropometry outcomes. The indicators were adult and child hunger in the household, self-reported household food sufficiency, food expenditure>60% of monthly expenditure and household dietary diversity. Multinomial and logistic regression models were employed to examine the associations with adult BMI categories and children's stunting and BMI. Results The prevalence of stunting was 18.4% and the prevalence of wasting and overweight was 6.8 and 10.4%, respectively. Children <5 and adolescents with medium dietary diversity were significantly more likely to be stunted than children with high dietary diversity. Among children <5, child hunger and medium dietary diversity were significantly associated with wasting. None of the food security indicators were associated with stunting in children aged 5–9. Among stunted children, 70.2% lived with an overweight or obese adult. Among adults, increased dietary diversity increased the risk of overweight and obesity. Conclusion Dietary diversity can be used as a proxy for poor nutritional status among children <5 years and adolescents but the relationship between dietary diversity and adult obesity is more complex. Given the double burden of malnutrition in many low- and middle-income countries, indicators of dietary quality remain important. These tools can be further refined to include an extra category for processed foods. Given the relative simplicity to collect this data, national surveys would be improved by its inclusion.

Crop Diversity, Dietary Diversity, and Nutritional Intake: Evidence on Inter-Linkages Across the Rural–Urban Interface of Bengaluru

Abstract: In India, the linkages between agriculture and nutrition are complex and often debated in the policy discourse. Over the past two decades, agricultural production and per capita availability of food grains have increased. In this context, the study has examined the food consumption patterns, the relationship between agricultural production and dietary diversity, and the impact of dietary diversity on nutritional intake. It used a sample of 1275 households in the rural–urban interface, within two transects north and south of Bengaluru. Based on a 14-day food consumption recall, the Simpson Index of Dietary Diversity was used to analyze the dietary diversity and Herfindahl Index was employed to assess the diversity in crop production. The dietary diversity is a good indicator for assessing nutritional adequacy, as it is positively associated with energy and nutrients intake. An estimate of diversity scores revealed that the dietary diversity was marginally higher in northern transect (0.80) compared to the southern transect (0.79). Within the transects, the highest dietary diversity was observed in urban areas, while production diversity was higher in the rural than in the transition area. The findings showed that agricultural production diversity is a major determinant of dietary diversity which in turn has a strong effect on calorie and protein intake. Promoting agricultural diversification will thus help enhancing food and nutrition security in the country.