Impact of Millet-Based Dietary Intervention on the Nutritional Status of Children in Rural and Tribal Andhra Pradesh, India - Community-Led Study

Q: What nutritional problem does the study target for children aged two to six?

It targets undernutrition linked to low millet consumption among young children in rural and tribal regions of Andhra Pradesh, where nutritional gaps and micronutrient deficiencies are common.

Q: How was the community-led millet intervention (“Mother’s Kitchen”) implemented?

The intervention ran for 12 weeks and included weekly hands-on millet recipe demonstrations delivered by the community.

Q: What results showed improvement after the intervention?

Children consuming millets increased and the prevalence of underweight decreased significantly; maternal session attendance (≥7 sessions) was associated with higher millet consumption and lower underweight prevalence.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by WPS_1786070896

Millet-based dietary interventions address low millet intake among children aged two to six in rural and tribal Andhra Pradesh, India. The study examines baseline millet consumption and nutritional status, determines socio-demographic determinants of undernutrition, and tests a community-led millet recipe program (“Mother’s Kitchen”). A cohort survey of 345 children uses structured questionnaires, 24-hour dietary recalls, and WHO Anthro anthropometry with statistical evaluation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Review began 11/12/2025 Review ended 11/27/2025 Published 12/10/2025 © Copyright 2025 Gupta et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC-BY 4.0. , which permits unrestricted use , distribution , and reproduction in any medium , provided the original author and source are credited. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.98867 Open Access Original Article Impact of Millet-Based Dietary Intervention on the Nutritional Status of Children in Rural and Tribal Andhra Pradesh, India Arti Gupta 1, Pulla Sirisha 1, Joe Amalan 1, Venkatashiva Reddy B 1, Rajeev Aravindakshan 1, Dadi J. Madhuri 1, Durgavajjala P. Manaswini 1, Dokiburra G. Rachana 1 , Yusuf N. Shaik 2, Maharshi Deepa 3 1. Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalagiri, Mangalagiri, IND 2. Preventive Medicine, Women Development and Child Welfare Department, Guntur, IND 3. Nutrition Science, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Guntur, IND Corresponding author: Arti Gupta, [guptaarti2003@gmail.com](guptaarti2003@gmail.com) Abstract Background: According to the International Year of Millets 2023, millets are incredible ancestral, nutrientrich, climate-resilient grains recognized for their role in preventing malnutrition. However, their consumption among young children remains low due to changing food preferences and limited awareness. This study evaluates the nutritional impact of millet-based interventions among children aged two to six years in rural and tribal regions of Andhra Pradesh, India. Objectives: To assess millet consumption and nutritional status at baseline, identify socio-demographic determinants of undernutrition and to evaluate the effectiveness of a community-led millet recipe intervention (“Mother’s Kitchen”) on improving dietary intake and growth outcomes. Methods: A cohort-based survey was conducted among 345 children across Rayalaseema, Uttar Andhra, and Coastal Andhra. Maternal, demographic, and dietary data were collected using structured questionnaires, 24-hour dietary recall (three non-consecutive days), and anthropometric indices using the WHO Anthro software. This involved a 12-week community-led intervention (Mother 's Kitchen) involving weekly handson millet recipe demonstrations. Data were analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 29; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY) . A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The proportion of children consuming millets increased from 90 (26 .2%) to 135 (39 .4%) . The prevalence of underweight decreased from 120 (35 .0%) to 73 (21 .3%) (p < 0 .001) . Children whose mother attended ≥7 sessions had 61% millet consumption, compared with 32. 7% for <7 sessions, and a lower prevalence of underweight (RR = 0 .673) . Socioeconomic status, maternal education, early marriage, breastfeeding practices, and tribal residence were significantly associated with malnutrition. Conclusion: Millet-based dietary interventions, when delivered through culturally relevant and communityled strategies, significantly improve dietary intake and reduce undernutrition among children. Integrating millets into the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, mid-day meals, and Public Distribution System programs, along with maternal nutrition education, can sustainably enhance child growth outcomes. Categories: Nutrition, Public Health, Preventive Medicine Keywords: community intervention, millets, preschool children, ragi, undernutrition Introduction Millets, often called nutri-cereals, are small-grained crops valued for their hardiness and role in sustainable agriculture. Public health efforts in India now prioritize reviving traditional foods, with millets at the forefront due to their nutritional and cultural importance [1] . India produces nearly 80% of Asia’s millet supply and 20% o

FAQs

What nutritional problem does the study target for children aged two to six?

It targets undernutrition linked to low millet consumption among young children in rural and tribal regions of Andhra Pradesh, where nutritional gaps and micronutrient deficiencies are common.

How was the community-led millet intervention (“Mother’s Kitchen”) implemented?

The intervention ran for 12 weeks and included weekly hands-on millet recipe demonstrations delivered by the community.

What results showed improvement after the intervention?

Children consuming millets increased and the prevalence of underweight decreased significantly; maternal session attendance (≥7 sessions) was associated with higher millet consumption and lower underweight prevalence.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by WPS_1786070896