MSc

The present study on "Food consumption pattern and nutritional status of
women agricultural labourers of Ollukkara Block, Thrissur District" was carried out
to asses the socio economic status, food consumption pattern and nutritional status of
women agricultural labourers within the age group of 18 to 45 years. The study was
carried out in 3 panchayats of Ollukkara Block where there was maximum
agricultural operations. The selected panchayats were Madakkathara, Ollukkara and
Panancheri. From each panchayat one ward was randomly selected. Women
agricultural labourers within the age group of 18 to 45 years were randomly selected
from the selected wards. The findings of the present study are given as follows
Majority of the labourer families surveyed were nuclear type with patriarchal
family system. Less than 30 age group was more common and their literacy rate was
satisfactory 10 some extent. The ramify size ranged between 4 to 6 and majority of
the income levels were with in Rs. 100 I to 2500. Land possession was meagre and
majority of the labourer families owned the land through purchase and some of them
inherited the land from parents.
Maximum proportion of income was spent on food. items and small per cent
of their income was saved by majority otthe families.
All the families owned a house and most of them were mud built and tiled.
The houses were occupied with separate kitchen and 3 to 5 rooms were present in
most of them. Drinking water, lavatory and electrical facilities were satisfactory.
Most of the families used wood as fuel and some of them used saw dust and kerosene

also. Expenditure for fuel purchase was significant even if fuels were collected from
surround i ngs.
As it medical aid majority of the families depended on Primary Health
Centres (PHC). Some famiiies spent significant portion of their income for medical
services. The attainment of general information through various media was
satisfactory to some extent. Most of the women worked for 8 to 10 hours in the field
and 3 to 5 hours in the home.
All the families surveyed were non vegetarians. Maximum of the food
expenditure was for cereals followed by roots and tubers, other vegetables, pulses,
fish, sugar, oils and fats etc. Frequency score of 100 was got for cereals, other
vegetables, oils and fats, spices and condiments and sugars. Medium frequently used
foods were comprised of pulses, roots and tubers and fish. Milk and milk products,
green leafy vegetables, egg, meat and fruits were included in the list of less
frequently used food items.
All the schoolers, adolescents and old people and majority of the pre
schoolers, pregnant and lactating women consumed ordinary home diets without any
special inclusion of nutritious foods.
Before cooking, the food items were washed only t\VO times by majority and
a minor group washed it three or more times. Boiling was the commonly practised
cooking method for various food items. Three meal pattern was more common and
based on the accessibility of food stuffs and money most of them planned the meals.
Equal importance to all the family members in food distribution was observed.









Consumption of raw vegetables was meagre and majority of the families reused the
left over foods. Practice of drinking water without boiling was more common.
Diet modification during disease conditions were observed. Kanji (rice
gruel), kanji water, tender coconut water, fatfree pappads etc. were the modifications
for different types of diseases.
The mothers had started breast feeding of the baby soon after birth and they
continued it for 1 to 3 years. Weaning between the age of 2 to 5 months was more
common and the weaning foods included were banana, suji, ragi etc.
The mean body weight of the sample was lower than the standard body
weight suggested by ICMR (1989) and the observed mean height was 151.6 cm.
Normal BMI values were observed among more than half of the sample. Low weight
with normal BM! and Grade I Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) were also observed
among some women. Mild and severe dental caries were the most prominent clinical
deficiency symptom. Low haemoglobin status was more common.
The deficient intake of fruits, egg, green leafy vegetables, milk and milk
products and all the other food items except cereals and other vegetables were
observed. The deficient intake of fat, protein, calories, calcium, iron, retinol and
riboflavin were observed and only the intake of nicotinic acid and thiamine were
adequate.
All the labourers showed negative energy balance when compared the daily
energy intake with the daily energy expenditure.
Knowledge and attitude regarding health and nutrition was satisfactory to some
extent, while the practice score was a poor indicator.