Discrimination in the provision of adequate and timely nutrition and health inputs to the girl child is a persisting problem as result of which these groups suffer from various problems like under weight, malnutrition, anaemia, micro nutrient deficiencies, stunted growth etc.
Health and nutrition awareness and education to dispel discrimination against girls is crucial
An intensive social mobilization of communities especially, women’s group and adolescent groups needs to be undertaken and should focus on particularly on immunization the girl child, promotion of breast feeding, micro-nutrient deficiencies and malnutrition, its effect on child-bearing and removal of food taboos for girls so that nutritious food is provided to them during their growing years along with regular health check up at PHCs.
One of the factors for high mortality and morbidity among adolescent girls is high risks involved in their pregnancy, as they are physically and biologically not prepared for child birth. It is very essential that such pregnant adolescent girls should be provided adequate health care by Anganwadi and Asha workers and also promote institutional deliveries. An integrated approach taking care of lifeskills , nutrition, health of adolescents girls may pave the way for healthy society/ better quality human resource.
Participants