Nutritional status and socioeconomic empowerment of fisherwomen in the coastal ecosystem of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India

This study was carried out in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. From these states, 13 districts and 28 villages were selected. A total of 5,744 households were covered. Cereal consumption was highest in Andhra Pradesh followed by Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Pulse consumption was high in Kerala when compared to other states. The overall energy intake of the fisherwomen was 1,827 kcal/day; protein intake was 50.6 gm/day; carbohydrate intake was 343.5 gm/day; and fat intake was 27 gm/day. The mean intake of micronutrients was less than the recommended dietary allowance. The mean body mass index was 21.3. The nutritional status of the women was: 49% normal; 17% low normal; 10.5% mildly malnourished; 4% moderately malnourished; and 2.9% severely malnourished. About 11.5% of the fisherwomen were overweight and 4.6% were obese. A subsample of 915 women was clinically observed: 34.8% were diagnosed with angular stomatitis; 31 % with cheelosis; 42.8% with bleeding gums; and 44.2% with dry skin. Some 72% of the women were anemic. An assessment ofthe socioeconomic status indicated that very few households (15.4%) maintained livestock for income generation. About 60% of the fisherwomen carried out post-harvest activities to earn income. Food expenditure comprised 60.7% of the earned income contribvting to the major share of the spending. Debt servicing was a serious problem faced by 44.9% of the respondents who had procured loans mostly from non-institutional sources

Participation of women in post harvest fisheries sector

Women in India are traditionally involved in agriculture, dairying, animal husbandry and fisheries. The fisheries sector makes an important contribution to the national economy with a share of 2.5% of the GDP providing food and employmen

Role of women in Fisheries: An Overview

Women playa key role in the development of fisheries sector in addition to their role of sole household managers in most fisher families

Socio-economic status of fisherwomen

In India, women constitute about 50 per cent of the population and comprise one third of the labour force. Women account for 32.5 per cent of the total work force of 121.63 million (1993-94) and the figure is still increasing day by day. Among the different sectors of the Indian economy where women contribute significantly, fishery sector is an important one. Out of the 5.4 million active fishers in India, 3.8 million (70.37%) are fishermen and 1.6 million (29.63%) are fisherwomen

Anthropometric measurements of fisherwomen and preschool children

Anthropometry is one of the methods used in nutritional assessment. Nutritional anthropometry can be defined as measurement of variation of the physical dimensions and the gross composition of the human body at different age levels and degrees of malnutritio

Bench mark survey of selected villages

The research project "Studies on fisherwomen in the Coastal Ecosystems of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu" as carried out with an aim to Study the socio-economio, nutritional and health status of the fisherwomen besides imparting them raining, in alternate income generating activities to improve their standard of living. To facilitate the conduct of this project a benchmark survey was conducted and the basic information on different aspeots of the fisherwomen and general features such as physical and geographical, demographical and other related Information were collected. The Infonnation tnus collected reveal that the Andhra pradesh lies on the ess coast, Karnataka and Kerala lies on the wesl coast while Tamil Nadu covers both east and west coas

Nutritional status of pre-school children

In the surveyed south Indian states, it was found that cereal Intake per child was found to be 136 gm., and pulse intake was found to be 10gm. The consumption of vegetables and fruits was found to be Low. Milk consumption was also very low. Fish consumption was found to be 35 gm. The intake of nutrients was also tower than the RD

Role model- case studies of successful fisherwomen

Women forms about 50% of the human race. It is well known that poverty, hunger and malnutrition are comparatively more among coastal fisher folk. Coastal fisheries being a common property resource, stake holders in the upper strata with better equipments and facilities are empowered to earn higher income which is further widening the gap between the rich and poor

Nutritional status of fisherwomen

Most fisher women were taking rice as it was their staple food. The mean consumption of rice was 330 gm/day. The consumption of pulses was 18•25 gm/day. The consumption of green leafy vegetables was found to be less and was observed to be 12 gm/day. The consumption of other. vegetable was also less. Consumption of fish was found to be more as it was easily available for them. Cereal consumption was found to be high in Andhra Pradesh followed by Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamilnadu

Knowledge, Aptitude and Practice (KAP) of nutrition, health and hygiene: fisher women

Nutrition education, education on ealth and hygiene and awareness on environmental sanitation and cleanliness were carried on in the surveyed places during the survey period. The response to the awareness created was between 35 - 50% in al the aspects of the nutrition education given. Changes in their life style cannot be brought at a stretch. Hence there is a need to create awareness on a continuous basis to so that they can practice the knowledge gained in day to day activitie