Self-Help Groups as a Platform to Improve Nutritional Status

Transcription

1 Self-Help Groups as a Platform to Improve Nutritional Status INSIGHTS FROM VILLAGE AUREPALLE RACHEL GANSON

2 Personal Background Chicago, Illinois, USA 12 th Standard 212 World Food Prize Borlaug-Ruan International Intern Interest in: Social/gender studies Health studies Southeast Asia & Africa 8-week study Selected by ICRISAT Mentor: Dr. Bantilan Nutrition & Gender Development

3 Literature Review Village and Household Economies in India s Semi-Arid Tropics by TS Walker and JG Ryan General introduction to ICRISAT & Village Level Studies (VLS) Prompted interest in female income and household nutritional status Enable Educational Achievement Improved Nutrition Maintain Productivity Ensure Mobility Sustain Income- Earning Opportunities Reduced Child Mortality Increased Life Expectancy Increased Uptake of Family Planning Decreased Fertility Decreased Population Growth

4 Literature Review (cont d) The Contribution of ICRISAT s Mandate Crops to Household Food Security by Kim Chung In-Depth review of nutrition Vitamins & Minerals provided by crops Aurepalle s preference for rice Quantity v. Quality of dietary protein Empowerment Through Social Capital Build-Up: Gender Dimensions in Technology Uptake by MCS Bantilan and R Padmaja Female Social Networking More informal groups Emphasize common interest Bridge caste, class, etc. Introduced information leading to this study s hypotheses and objectives Gender and Social Capital Mediated Technology Adoption by R Padmaja, MCS Bantilan, D Parthasarathy, and BVJ Gandhi Collective action yields successful adoption Females who increase income have more voice on topics such as: SHG Participation Education Consumption Other resources

5 Hypotheses Female participation in SHGs will enhance the nutrition status of the household. Involvement in SHGs will increase the consumption frequency of healthy, nutritious foods in the household diets. Anthropometric measurements taken for all households will show an increase in normal ranges of nutritional status among SHG households. Participation in SHGs provides more access to information on nutrition.

6 Objectives Does participation in SHGs improve the nutritional status of the household? In SHG households, are more nutritious foods consumed more consistently when compared to non-shg households? Does anthropometric data quantitatively show an increase in nutritional status for SHG households as opposed to non-shg households? Do SHGs provided information to members on accessible resources that can improve nutritional status?

7 Study Outline Review of Literature Formulation of Objectives & Hypotheses Development of Questionnaire & Focus Group Discussion Guide Data Collection Aurepalle Village Individual Interviews 8 SGH 6 Non-SHG Focus Group Discussions SHG Non-SHG Aurepalle VLS Data Analysis of Data & In-House Discussions Presentation Final Report

8 Methodology Aurepalle Village Original VLS Village Highest SHG Participation 62 SHGs Members/Group Field Research Preference to farm size Focus Group Discussions 2 FGD SHG=24 Participants Non-SHG=18 Participants Discussion Guide Individual Interviews 14 Women Interviewed 8 SHG Members 6 Non-SHG Members Extensive survey questions VLS Data Analysis BMI Calculated (World Health Organization) Comparison of SHG and Non- SHG Comparison to National Indian Standards Limitations Time Availability of Interviewees Language Barrier Participation Rate

9 Self-Help Groups and Aurepalle Village A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THEIR ROLE IN VILLAGE SOCIETY

10 Aurepalle Field Visit (Above) SHG Focus Group (Right) Son of SHG member before school (Above) Meeting for an interview in the field

11 Rise of Self-Help Group Micro-financial institution members Small monthly contribution to group savings Receive bank loans Low interest rates Information disseminators Government official->shg Member NGO->SHG Member SHG Member->SHG Member Tool for Empowerment Purchasing Power Money Management Skills Public Speaking Skills

12 Empowerment of Women Socially Bridge caste and class Often emphasis on kin relationship Community of common interest Intellectually Information shared Public speaking skills improved Have discussions with men 2 representatives from Federation of SHGs attend village meetings (monthly) Purchasing power increased Decision-making power expanded Claim to make decisions within respective group Still ask husbands advice All have joint decision-making power Child education increasingly important Scholarships Private schools

13 Reason for Joining an SHG % of Respondents Reason Given

14 35 Reasons for Not Joining an SHG % of Respondents Too Poor Husband Doesn't Approve Not Been Asked Too Busy Reason

15 6 Encouragers of SHGs 5 5 % of Respondents Group Leader Neighbors District Velugu SHG officers Encourager Relatives

16 Nutrition HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION AS A BASIS FOR COMPARING SHG AND NON-SHG NUTRITIONAL STATUS

17 Changes in Food Habits Food Items Consumed 3 Years Ago % of Respondents SHG Non-SHG Food Item

18 Changes in Food Habits (cont d) Food Items Consumed Now % of Respondents SHG Non-SHG Food Item

19 Inferences Increase in ready-mades Wheat Buns/Breads Biscuits Sweets/Kara Rice as staple grain Decrease in cereal consumption Subsidy for rice, not cereals (FGDs) Previously consumed healthier foods Organic foods Local varieties Change in quality of food (e.g., BPT Rice) More diversity now, but feel weaker

20 Household Consumption Food Items Most Commonly Consumed Food Items Wheat Fruits Pearl Millet Pulses (Other) Non-Vegetarian Food Vegetables (Includes GLV) Milk Pigeonpea Sorghum Rice % of Respondents Non-SHG SHG

21 Frequency of Food Item Consumption in SHG Households 8 % of Respondents Never Rarely (1-3x/Month) Sometimes (1-2x/Week) Usually (3-5x/Week) Always (6-7x/Week) Food Item

22 5 Frequency of Food Items Consumed in Non-SHG Households % of Respondents Never Rarely (1-3x/Month) Sometimes (1-2x/Week) Usually (3-5x/Week) Always (6-7x/Week) Food Item

23 Inferences SHG Households Non-SHG Households More frequently consume: Non-Vegetarian Food Sorghum Pigeonpea GLV Pearl Millet Other Pulses Milk Higher consumption of nutritionally rich foods Much higher GLV consumption More frequently consume: Fruits Wheat Vegetables

24 Fruit & Vegetable Consumption Comparing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Between SHG and Non-SHG Households 6 % of Respondents SHG Non-SHG Vegetable/Fruit Item

25 Home Production Comparing Home Produced Items in SHG and Non-SHG Households SHG Non-SHG % of Respondents Food Item

26 Home Production (cont d) % of Respondents Comparing the Amount of Home Produced Food Between SHG and Non-SHG Households Almost All More than Half 21.4 About Half Less than Half Amount Home Produced 21.4 Almost None SHG Non-SHG

27 Home Production (cont d) Amount Spent Purchasing Food % of Respondents SHG Non-SHG 5, Rs. 4, Rs. 3, Rs. 2, Rs. 15 Rs. 2 Rs. Rupees/Month

28 Most Costly Household Expenditures 6 SHG Non-SHG % of Respondents Expenditure Purpose

29 Household Concerns Most Concerning Household Issues Dowry Other Health problems Non-SHG SHG Would SHG Involvement Help with these Issues? Issues/Concerns Old Debts House Construction Education Child Health Agriculture Yes No 2 4 % of Respondents

30 Anthropometric Measurements ANALYSIS OF QUALITATIVE DATA

31 Body Mass Index BMI Classification of SHG Households BMI Classification of Non- SHG Households Severe Thinness (>16.) Underweight ( ) Normal ( ) Pre-Obese ( ) Obese (>3.) Severe Thinness (>16.) Underweight ( ) Normal ( ) Pre-Obese ( ) Obese (>3.)

32 BMI Limitations BMI Classification SHG Non-SHG Severely Thin 12 2 Thin 27 1 Normal Pre-Obese 11 Obese 1 Total Severe limitations found because of heavy involvement in SHGs

33 Under 5 Measurements SHG Measurements Measurement Normal Mild Moderate Severe Height Weight Arm Circumference 2 3 Non-SHG Measurements Measurement Normal Mild Moderate Severe Height 1 2 Weight 1 2 Arm Circumference 3

34 Information Sharing COMPARING INFORMATION SHARING BETWEEN SHG AND NON-SHG MEMBERS

35 The Most Important Types of Information Shared in SHGs Agriculture Information 28.6 General Awareness 21.4 Information Type Bank Transaction Management Loan Repayment Management Savings Management Public Speaking Skills No Information Given % of Respondents

36 % of Respondents Sources of Information (Non-SHGs) 35.7 Information Source

37 Level of Receptiveness to New Information % of Respondents SHG Non-SHG Very Open Somewhat Open Depends Not Usually Open Not Open at All Level of Receptiveness

38 Nutritional Information Benefits of Green Leafy Vegetables SHG Non-SHG % of Respondents Increases Iron Increases calcium Increases potassium Increases Vitamin C* Improves Eyesight Don't Know Benefit

39 Nutritional Information (cont d) % of Respondents Best Way to Obtain Protein SHG 1 Non-SHG 5 Source Source of Information on the Best Way to Obtain Protein Co-Workers Parents/Elders Radio Television Peer Group Non-SHG SHG Neighbors Doctors Method % of Respondents

40 Indicates Level of Nutritional Concern Among Villagers Respondents Content with Information Sharing in SHGs % Respondents Finding Information Sharing Beneficial % 1% 1% Yes No Yes No

41 Conclusions & Recommendations A SUMMARY OF WHAT THE RESULTS INDICATE AND SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT RESPONSES CAN BE MADE

42 Conclusions: Nutrition Quality Concern Could indicate a lack of knowledge Incorrect adoption of technology Rise in popularity of ready-made products Wheat flour, buns/breads, biscuits, etc. Less time-consuming Socially popular Rise in consumption of: Rice, wheat, vegetables, green leafy vegetables Farmers want cash SHG households More frequently consume: Sorghum, Pigeonpea, Pulses (others), Pearl Millet, Non- Vegetarian Food and Green Leafy Vegetables Less frequent consumption of wheat Both SHG & Non-SHG Decrease in cereals Increase in ready-made goods (ie biscuits, buns, breads, sweets) Lack of Concern over Nutritional Status

43 Conclusions: Anthropometric Measurements Unable to make informed conclusions due to sample size

44 Conclusions: Information Sharing Neighbors are main source of information SHG members more open to information Lack of concern regarding nutrition Adoption occurs collectively Focus Group Discussions Neighborhood adoption Gender and Social Capital Mediated Technology Adoption Women will talk

45 Learn Together Groups Collective Action & Adoption Successful Information Adoption Information Open Discussion of Problems & Solutions Doubt Information Individuals Unsure of Usefulness Non- Comprehensive Attempt to Adopt Failure of Information Adoption

46 Self-Help Groups Empowerment of Women Public Speaking Skills Expanded Knowledge Increased Influence

47 Women Will Talk Group learns together Group adopts together Group shares information Adoption is successful! Collective Action Takes Place Information Shared with Neighbors & Relatives Successful Adoption Takes Place Group Receives Information

48 NGOs/Government Schemes with Nutritional Information Individual Self-Help Groups Individual Unsuccessful Adoption Empowered Woman Empowered Woman Empowered Woman Unsuccessful Adoption Shares Information With Relatives & Neighbors Shares Information With Relatives & Neighbors Shares Information With Relatives & Neighbors Collective Action& & Successful Adoption

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50 Recommendations Increase study depth Compare to village with lower SHG participation Increase sample size Measure daily caloric intake Go outside VLS sample size Promote home-production Provide incentive for consumption of cereal grains other than rice Not just how, but why Use SHG to disseminate nutritional information Pinpoint SHG members in neighborhoods Teach empowered women why nutrition should be a concern Promote collective action & adoption (between neighbors)

51 ~Dhanyavād!~