NUTRITIONAL SURVEY OF 8TH OCTOBER, 2005 EARTHQUAKE HIT AREA, MALLOT,
TEHSIL DHERKOT, DISTRICT BAGH
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Earthquake disasters, not only affect the well being and health of people, but also plunge them into greater risks of food deprivation leading to ill-health and nutritional deficiency diseases.
Objectives: To determine the type and pattern of food availability against its consumption within average household family members, as well as the nutritional status of vulnerable members, in one of the 8th October, 2005 earthquake-hit areas.
Study Design and Duration: The study was done in Mallot, Tehsil Dherkot and District Bagh in AJK. It was a cross-sectional study carried out from November, 2006 to May, 2007 and included 150 households from the study area.
Materials and Methods: A pre-tested 5 module questionnaire was administered to collect the relevant data. Accepting a range of error between 5-7%, non-response 10% and confidence interval 95%, a sample size of 150 houses was taken out for the survey. The household information regarding food availability and consumption was collected from the family head whereas specific information was collected from the women, mothers and children.
Results: About 72-92% under-5 children were in poor nutritional status, while only 47% non-pregnant women and 49% lactating mothers had good nutritional status and normal weight. The food availability did not meet the dietary requirements of family members and hence, the food consumption was far less than their Recommended Daily Allowance. Nevertheless, visible micronutrient deficiency signs were not commonly visualized in the population due to the therapeutic campaign launched by the Government of Pakistan in the area. Only 8% had signs of protein-energy malnutrition followed by iron deficiency anemia (7.7%), dental caries (6.5%), vitamin A deficiency (4.6%) and iodine deficiency (4.0%). Serum vitamin A, urinary iodine and haemoglobin levels in lactating mothers were within the normal ranges.
Conclusion: Malnutrition was a major health problem in under-5 children. The women under various physiologic states were less affected by malnutrition. Less food consumption by the vulnerable groups was observed due to less food availability in the households.
Key Words: Nutrition Survey, earthquake, Pakistan