Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9600
+32 25889658
ISSN: 2155-9600
+32 25889658
Siddharudha Shivalli, Ratan Kumar Srivastava and Gyan Prakash Singh
Yenepoya University, India
Banaras Hindu University, India
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nutr Food Sci
Objective: To examine the effectiveness of â��Trials of Improved Practicesâ�� (TIPs) on dietary and iron-folate intake during pregnancy. Design: Community based quasi experimental study with a control group. Setting: Four villages of Chiraigaon Community Development Block of Varanasi, India from May 2010-April 2011. Participants: Pregnant women in 13-28 weeks of gestation. Intervention: TIPs was implemented in addition to ongoing essential obstetric care services in two villages through 3 home (assessment, negotiation and evaluation) visits and only assessment and evaluation visits in the other two. Interpersonal communication, endorsing active participation of family members and home based reminder materials were the TIPs strategies. The effect of TIPs was assessed by comparing key outcome variables at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention. Results: 86 women participated. At the end, mean hemoglobin levels were 11.5�±1.24 g/dl and 10.37�±1.38 g/dl in the TIPs and control groups, respectively. The prevalence of anemia reduced by half in TIPs group and increased by 2.4% in the control group. Weight gain (grams/week) was significantly (p<0.01) higher in TIPs group (326.9�±91.8 vs. 244.6�±97.4). More than 85% of the women in TIPs group were compliant for Iron-folate (38% in control). More than 2/3rds of women in TIPs group were taking one extra meal (1/3rd in controls). Conclusion: TIPs improved the nutritional status of pregnant women in the study area. TIPs strategy could be further explored on larger sample representing different socio-cultural and geographical areas.
Email: shivalli.bhu@gmail.com