Indian Pediatr. 1991 Oct; 28(10): 1135-9.

Knowledge amongst adolescent girls about nutritive value of foods and diet during diseases, pregnancy and lactation.

Kapil U, Bhasin S, Manocha S.

Human Nutrition Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

Knowledge about nutritive value of food, diet during diseases and antenatal and postnatal period was assessed amongst 152 adolescent school girls. A total of 23.69 and 55.93% students had incorrect knowledge that pulses and non-vegetarian foods should be avoided during later half of the pregnancy. A total of 63.82, 66.45 and 71.72% of subjects had incorrect knowledge that almonds have more nutritive value than groundnuts, fruits are rich sources of calories and desi ghee has more nutritive value than vanaspathi, respectively. Majority (90.78%) had correct knowledge that obesity is caused due to excess intake of calories than required by an individual and low iron content and poor availability of iron from food is a major cause of anemia in mothers and children.