The Division of Field studies carries out studies on community nutrition and dietetics, in addition to taking up continuous as well as special surveys of National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB).

Objectives

1. To Assess the prevalence of various dietary and nutrition problems prevalent in the communities
2. To monitor diet and nutrition situation of the country
3. Evolving suitable methods of prevention and control of nutrition problems through research
4. Conducting operational research for planning and implementation of national nutrition programs
5. To provide orientation training in health and nutrition to the related personnel..

Focus areas

The division focuses on carrying out a wide range of investigations in the community nutrition and operational research in rural areas of Andhra Pradesh and other parts of India. .

The activities of the field division are mostly collaborated with State Governments, Central Government and International Agencies while planning and conducting diet and nutrition surveys, evaluating ongoing nutrition programmes and conducting the studies on socio-cultural aspects of nutrition.

Basic studies on community nutritio

Studies have been conducted to assess the health and nutrition status of primitive tribal, refugees of Bangladesh and nutrition & health and psychological profile of institutionalized children were also carried out. Impact of drought on diet and nutritional status of population of various states viz. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Orissa was carried out. The continuous data collection on diet and nutritional status of population through NNMB and the one time assessment of diet and nutrition status of the community at district level through the project “Nutrition Profile of India”, were also carried out. Nation-wide surveys on IDD are also being carried out by this division.

Operational Research

1. Horticulture intervention programme was carried out for nutrition improvement by encouraging home gardening, would increase the GLV consumption and thereby promotes the vitamin ‘A’ status


2. Social marketing approach in the prevention of micronutrient deficiency especially vitamin ‘A’ deficiency was also carried

Diet and nutritional status of the special age groups such as adolescents and elderly people were also carried out. The results revealed that both the groups were subsisting on inadequate diets and their diets were efficient of almost all the nutrients. About half of the elderly were suffering from CED and the prevalence of under nutrition was about 53% and 40% in adolescent boys and girls respectively

Evaluation Studies and the findings

1. Evaluation of Tamil Nadu Integrated Nutrition Programme (TINP): The result shows that the reduction of severe grade undernutrition was 48% as against the target of 50%.


2. End line evaluation of ICDS in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa: The results indicated that there was a marked reduction (>50%) in Grade III & IV under nutrition in Andhra Pradesh while it was marginal (12-15%) in the state of Orissa

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in Andhra Pradesh under APER baseline survey in rural and tribal projects. Among the rural areas about 68% - 82% of mothers of 0-72 months children utilized at least one of the ICDS services and 39% of the pregnant and lactating women utilized at least once ICDS services.Similarly, more than three fourths of the target population was wailing ICDS services in tribal areas also.

Other studies

1. Diet and nutrition situation in drought affected states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan: No significant variation in the diet and nutritional status of the community compared to normal situation, which could be due to better food security and better management by the State governments during the drought situation.


2. Based on the studies on primitive tribal groups and refugees of Bangladesh, recommendations were made on health and nutrition needs of these population groups and submitted the same to the Government