Community Perception and Acceptance of Micronutrient Fortified Complementary Food in Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Gujarat, India
Journal Title: Indian Journal of Nutrition - Year 2015, Vol 2, Issue 1
Abstract
Background: Fortification of complementary food is seen as a potent intervention to address child malnutrition. Government of Gujarat introduced Balbhog; an extruded fortified blended “a pre-cooked, cereal-based supplementary food in powder form”, to promote complementary feeding in 2007-08.The study aimed to understand community perception, acceptance and practices associated with Balbhog. Methods: The study used Focus Group Discussions for data collection involving mothers feeding Balbhog to their 6-36 months old children and in-depth interviews with women who were non-users. Data were collected from four districts, representing four of the six regions of Gujarat. Results: The study found that Balbhog was acceptable to most women and their children. Women had a strong recall about the product and its ingredients. Many caregivers attributed possible improvement in children’s appetite and weight gain to the product. Quick preparation time and ease in cooking were other reasons for acceptance. Balbhog was being made available but often not in stipulated quantity and mothers were not aware of their entitlement. The frequency of feeding differed across caregivers. The common practice was to feed children on demand. Targeting the product to under-three year children emerged as a challenge. Often the product was not perceived as ‘ready-to-eat’ instead caregivers improved the preparation by adding additional ingredients. The quality of the product, preference for homemade food and a perception that Balbhog is meant for poor were barriers highlighted by non-users. Conclusion: Acceptance and usage of Balbhog depends on product features, its availability, ease in preparation and social evaluation of the product. There is a significant scope to improve the availability of the product within the entitled amount. There is also a need for nutrition counselling on Balbhog to improve its initiation at appropriate age, improve consistency, frequency and quantity of its feeding and focusing the feeding to targeted age groups.
Authors and Affiliations
N. Nakkeeran
Keywords
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