Child and Maternal Health Services in Rural India: The Narangwal Experiment, Volume 1: Integrated Nutrition and Health Care

Abstract

This book is a result of research on the Narangwal Nutrition Project implemented from 1965-1973 which revealed the existence of a synergism in programs to control malnutrition and infections similar to the synergism between these problems. The study was done in Punjab India an area of the best nourished Indian population due to an abundant food surplus. The 1st chapter provides an overview of the project and a summary of findings and later chapters focus on particular aspects of the study including the impact on child growth nutrition and psychomotor development indicators of nutritional risk correlates of preschool child growth in rural Punjab analysis of morbidity and mortality information monitoring and feedback for service modifications and evaluation of program utilizationn and cost-effectiveness. Several tables present statistical findings of demographic socioeconomic and other characteristics of he experimental groups of villages. The synergism between nutritional deficiencies and common childhood infections is the leading cause of death disease and retarded growth and development in children. Intervention through health and nutrition programs resulted in significantly improved child health and a sharp reduction in perinatal neonatal and postneonatal mortality.