A special nutrition study for Mission Against Malnutrition Project in Bellary district

Agency: JSW (routed through Bhoruka Charitable Trust)

Research Team:Dr Manoj Kumar Gupta, Dr Sreenath Reddy, Dr Biranchi N Jena, Mr Angan Sengupta, Dr Veena R, Ms Sharmila S, Ms Juby A Jose, Mr Mahadev Prasad

IHMR Bangalore has developed a research study as a part of Jindal Steel Works (JSW) Foundation’s Mission against Childhood Malnutrition programme, in Bellary district, which is a CSR activity for them. JSW is aiming to reduce the burden of malnutrition in the study area by providing Spirulina as supplementary food for 6 months to 6 years children. IIHMR has proposed a research study for the same to find out the effectiveness of Spirulina along with many other research questions. This is an action research in which 4 pronged strategy (Biochemical assessment, Anthropometric examination, Clinical evaluation and Cognitive development assessment) has been adopted for complete assessment of nutritional status of 1000 moderately and severely malnourished children of age group 6months – 6yrs in Bellary district. Biochemical tests are set which has been performed for subset (300 baseline and 300 endline) of those selected malnourished children and are comprised of 8 different types of tests to find out the exact micronutrient deficiency, so that the approach can be modified in the right direction.

Development of Nutrition Policy for the State of Karnataka

Agency: UNICEF, Hyderabad Office, India

Project Team: Dr. Usha Manjunath

Karnataka State has made impressive strides in some of the human development indicators and further plans to promote social, economic and political empowerment of women, ensure development and protection of children through various policies and programmes in the areas of health, nutrition and child protection. IIHMR, Bangalore is a technical partner for the above projects to UNICEF, Hyderabad office, India. UNICEF and Department of Women and Child Development, GoK are collaboratively developing a plan for Strategic Communication for Children in Karnataka, primarily addressing the issues related to nutrition and health of women, children and child protection. IIHMR, Bangalore was the technical partner to UNICEF in assessing the baseline of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice in the above areas. Community awareness and practice on nutrition, maternal health (ANC & PNC), new-born/childcare, child protection/rights, child marriages, delaying marriage/first pregnancy and spacing methods were specifically examined. The research used mixed methods including quantitative and qualitative methodologies including household survey, in-depth interviews and FGDs of key stakeholders. This community based cross sectional study was done to collect the baseline information as per the identified indicators. It was carried out in 20 villages in two districts of Karnataka, namely, Mysore and Koppal. The research results were established to the baseline to further evaluate the effectiveness and impact of Strategic Behavior Change Communication Intervention Strategies that were proposed to be implemented in the State of Karnataka Nutrition Policy for the State of Karnataka was proposed and drafted through desk research, review of existing nutrition policies of other states of India, literature review on various aspects of nutrition, programmes, innovative solutions to address malnutrition and expert consultation in partnership with UNICEF.

Assessment of psychosocial status and quality of life of adolescent girls in rural area of Bellary, Karnataka

Agency: IIHMR Society, Jaipur

Research Team: Dr Manoj Kumar Gupta, Dr Veena R, Ms An-Lies Provost

This is an internal research grant project allocated by IIHMR society, Jaipur. This study was intended to assess the psychosocial status and quality of life of the adolescent girls by using WHO modified HEEADSSS approach and WHOQOL-BREF tool, respectively. HEEADSSS questionnaire has been modified consideration rural background to make it simple, favourable and appropriate to rural adolescent girls. It included eight parameters viz. Home, Education and Employment, Eating, Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, Suicide and Depression and Safety. WHOQOL-BREF tool assessed the health-related quality of life. It took into consideration four domains of quality of life i.e., physical, psychological, environmental and social relationship.

Monitoring of EHS Services

Agency: Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST), KHSDRP, Govt. of Karnataka

Research Team: Dr Reshmi RS, Dr Biranchi N Jena, Dr S Reddy, Mr Kiran Angadi

The overall objective was to compile all available sources of information related to Emergency Health Services and assess the availability of Emergency Health Services in Karnataka, including its geospatial analysis using GIS tools.

The specific objectives were:

• To compile information on existing Emergency Health Facilities in the State.
• To map the information on accidents and emergencies available from multiple sources along with health facility, roads and other information.
• To analyse the spatial distribution of EHS and to identify the gaps.
• Contribute to the analysis of gaps and to help SAST prepare an action plan to address the gaps.

To compile information on existing Emergency Health Services (EHS) in Karnataka, a review of literature was done based on all the existing literature on EHS. Based on the existing studies, working definition for Emergency Health Services and Emergency Health Facility was done. The project used secondary data from various sources like Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI), Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST), Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services, Bangalore, and Survey Settlement and Land Records Office, Bangalore. The secondary data was analysed using Excel and necessary tables will be generated. Also, GIS analysis was done using the package SaTScan. Based on the data analysis and emergency health facility available, hospitals in Karnataka were categorized based into different levels and accident hotspots as well as the facilities were plotted into maps.

Base line Study for Strategic Behavior Change Communication Intervention for Maternal Health and Child Development in Karnataka

Agency: UNICEF, Hyderabad Office, India

Project Team: Dr. Usha Manjunath, Dr. Manoj Kumar Gupta, Dr. Sarala Raju, Dr. Veena R., Mr. Angan Sengupta, Mr. Rajendra. D, Mr Santosh Daddi

Objective of the study:

• To assess the awareness level about nutrition among adolescents and the practice of menstrual hygiene.
• To understand the knowledge, attitude and practice of the community about the disadvantages of child marriage and the health benefits of delaying marriage, first pregnancy and use of spacing method.
• To understand the health seeking behavior of women an all aspects of ANC, delivery and PNC.
• To assess the knowledge and practice regarding different aspects of newborn and childcare.
• To assess the level of awareness of the community regarding child protection regarding child protection and scheme related to it.

This was a community based cross sectional study for collecting the baseline information as per the indicators; study was done for a period of 5 months. The study was conducted in 2 districts of Karnataka where one from north Koppal, and another from south Mysore in each district 30 villages were taken where 10 villages were control, 20 villages were interventional of that 10 were implemented from GAARM and 10 from the state government, sample selected based on the probability proportion to size sampling technique. Before commencement of baseline data collection, a quick socio demographic survey was conducted of adolescent girls, pregnant women, recently delivered mothers, mothers of 1-to-5-year children and reproductive age group women. The data was collected by different household survey tool for different respondents, FGD and in-depth interview. The data analysis was done using Microsoft excel and SPSS v.16. the survey was conducted for checking the indicators like % of adolescent girl’s awareness about nutrition, menstrual hygiene, risk for developing psycho-social abnormalities, health benefits of delaying marriage and first pregnancy. % of ANC coverage, birth preparedness, knowledge about nutrition, misconceptions, health benefits of delaying marriage, % of instutional delivery, level of care % of child immunization, women following hygiene practices. Knowledge about violence and abuse, level of awareness and usage of social welfare, awareness about disadvantages of early marriage were also assessed.

Assessment of Nutritional status of adolescent girls in Karnataka

Agency: IIHMR Society, Jaipur

Research Team: Mr Angan Sengupta, Dr Manoj Kumar Gupta, Dr Veena R, Ms An-Lies Provost

This is an internal research grant project allocated by IIHMR society, Jaipur. The objectives of the study were: –

• To assess the dietary intake, dietary pattern and physical activity of rural adolescent girls in Bellary district of Karnataka.
• To assess the dietary intake 24-hour dietary recall, and 3 days dietary recall methods have been used.

An interview schedule was developed to assess the dietary pattern and physical activity.