Nutritional and haematological profile of urban working women as influenced by nutrition counselling

A sample of seventy working women aged 35–45 yrs belonging to middle income group were selected randomly and divided equally into two groups viz. Experimental (E) and Control (C). Nutrition Counselling (NC) was imparted to group E through modules, printed booklets, lectures, demonstrations, visual aids etc. by nine individual and three group contacts for a period of three months. The intake of energy was marginally lower, whereas protein and fat intake was grossly higher than ICMR's recommendations (1999) at T₂ (after NC) in both the groups. The intake of thiamine, vitamin C, folic acid and calcium was adequate, whereas the intake of riboflavin, vitamin B₁₂, iron and zinc was marginally inadequate in both the groups than the ICMR (1999) recommendations at T₁ (before NC) & T₂. The mean levels of haemoglobin were 10.09±0.21 & 11.00±0.15 and 9.87±0.15 & 9.90±0.14g/dl in group E and C at T₁, & T₂, respectively. All the subjects had lower haemopoetic indices at T₁, but at T₂ there was significant (P≤0.05) improvement in the overall haematological profile in group E, while no improvement was observed in case of group C. So the perusal of data clearly indicated that there is need for educating the women by changing their attitudes regarding nutrition and health through nutrition counselling.