Situational Nutritional Analysis of Idumishmi Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, North-East India

Abstract

The studies on tribal population is limited. Therefore, this study investigated the dietary patterns and nutritional health of the Mishmi tribespeople; and evaluated the cultural beliefs surrounding food and their potential impact on nutritional health. It also explored the degree of nutrition transition among the tribal community. Qualitative data collection on four relevant health and nutrition topics was completed using diet recalls, anthropometry, focus groups and key informant interviews. Trained moderators conducted interviews using a pre-tested, structured interview schedule. Focus group interviews and diet recalls were noted, transcribed and translated. Standard analysis was done using different relevant software. It was found that tribal people were consuming a two-meal pattern diet with high carbohydrate, low fat content, poor in vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B12, vitamin C, calcium, and iron. Anthropometric analysis showed one-fourth of children 2-9 year old were underweight and 7% were stunted. Many cultural beliefs existed around foods avoided during pregnancy such as papaya, pineapple, twin-fruit, and iron supplementation. Colostrum was considered as bad milk. Appropriate age for introduction of complementary foods was not clear to the mothers. Chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension were perceived to be high among tribal people. Based on their dietary patterns, physical activity and health status, Idu Mishmi tribes' appears to be in pattern 3 of the nutrition transition: characterized by labor-intensive work; starchy, low variety, low fat diet; nutritional inadequacies and an absence of obesity. Thus, it can be concluded that little nutrition transition was found among the Idu Mishmi tribe but there were several potentially harmful dietary practices and beliefs followed. Thus, nutrition education is key to increase intake of micronutrients rich food, types and amount of food required by pregnant women, importance of colostrum for infant's health, timely introduction of complementary foods for infants, and reinforce healthy dietary and lifestyle choices to prevent obesity and development of non-communicable, chronic diseases.

Nutritional status of tribal women (Saharia and Meena), Baran district of Rajasthan, India

“…The sources of iron in the diet are plant foods or non-heme iron. While vitamin C enhances the absorption of non-heme iron, the vitamin C intake of the Mishmi tribe was also low (Wright and Gupta, 2017). The recommendations of dietary iron for Indians (30 gm) are the highest in the world.…”

“…The studies on tribal population are limited (Wright and Gupta, 2017). Their nutritional status is poor in comparison to other rural women.…”

“…Most are concentrated in a third of India's 640 districts, and the vast majority, over 94 million, lives in rural areas (Chandramouli, 2013). Geographically, ST populations mostly reside in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Assam and Meghalaya (Wright and Gupta, 2017).…”

An assessment of food-security-related articles and lessons learnt from Zimbabwe: A critical analysis

“…Gupta and Wright (2017) in their article, ‘Situational nutritional analysis of Idu Mishmi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, north-east India’, bring out the issue of nutritional balance as an important aspect of food security. The article, which is exploratory in nature, employed structured interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews to gather data on dietary patterns and nutrition adequacy, cultural beliefs surrounding food and impact on nutritional health.…”

“…In this regard, it can be asserted that the work by Gupta and Wright (2017) is essential in bringing out the various facets of food security with regard to nutrition and health of the people in communities as this is depicted in the article through graphical presentations, tables, charts as well as narratives. However, the article did not give much insight on what needs to be done to promote a balanced diet as an important aspect of food security.…”