A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON MID-DAY MEAL AND NON-MID-DAY MEAL BENEFICIARIES OF BUDGAM DISTRICT
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Objective: The present research has been conducted with the objectives of comparing the anthropometric measurements, intellectual, and social
development of mid-day meal (MDM) and non-MDM (NMDM) beneficiaries of Budgam district, Kashmir province of Jammu and Kashmir state.
Methods: A total number of 62 of each beneficiary from both MDM schools and NMDM schools children under the age group of 6 years were included
in this cross-sectional study. The anthropometric measurements such as weight, height, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were recorded for
each student. The various intellectual abilities studied in this research paper were verbal, word, numerical, space, memory, perceptual, and reasoning.
The social behaviors such as competition, cooperation, leadership, sympathy, dependency, aggression, negativism, and jealous were studied.
Results: The results of the study revealed that there was a significant difference (p<0.001) between the anthropometric measurement of MDM and
NMDM beneficiaries. The NMDM beneficiaries have better development in terms of height and MUAC when compared to MDM beneficiaries. No such
significant differences were found in intellectual and social development between these two groups.
Conclusion: Results from his research findings concluded that the possible effects of the MDMs on anthropometric measurements, intellectual,
and social development of the school children are very less. The reason could be irregular attendance of children in school, less amount of MDM,
poor quality of food items in MDMs, less number of appointed teachers, combined teaching of different standard, and lack of classroom. All these
parameters need to be further improved and strengthen to fill the nutrient gaps to have a positive impact of MDMs on school-going children.
Keywords: Mid-day meal, Non-mid-day meal, Anthropometric measurements, Intellectual abilities and social behavior.
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