Training Needs of Rural Mothers in Nutrition, Health and Environmental Sanitation in Different Agro-climatic Regions of Punjab

Abstract

Malnutrition is a social problem of staggering dimensions in South Asia. Protein energy malnutrition among South Asian children has not improved significantly during the last two decades inspites of large investments in nutrition programmes. Thus there is a need to adopt a holistic approach for the prevention of malnutrition. Mothers health knowledge alone appeared to be crucial skill for raising child health in developing countries. The studies have also reported that nutrition knowledge level of the mothers significantly affects the nutritional status of children. Therefore it is utmost necessary to identify various nutritional training needs on the basis of existing gaps in knowledge of the mothers so that a realistic and action oriented nutrition education training programme with more emphasis on areas of inadequate knowledge may be organised for them. About 70 per cent of Punjab population reside in villages. Keeping in view all these considerations the present study was an attempt in this direction. The specific objective of the study was to measure the knowledge level of rural mothers of preschool children and to identify and prioritize the various training needs in different regions of Punjab. (excerpt)