BENEFICIARIES' PERSPECTIVE IN REDUCING CHILD DEATHS DUE TO MALNUTRITION IN TRIBAL DISTRICT OF MAHARASHTRA: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

This study was an attempt to understand the perceptions of the beneciaries towards various services provided by Government for reducing the problem of child deaths due to malnutrition and the challenges faced. Three talukas from Palghar were chosen based on the child malnutrition status in those talukas. A descriptive cross sectional, community-based study was conducted. Data was collected through focus group discussions conducted in representative and homogeneous samples of the beneciaries, viz., adolescent girls, pregnant/lactating mothers, mothers with toddler/malnourished child, mother-in-law and husbands. It was found that the main challenges posed to the beneciaries were category specic. The major challenges were poverty, lower education levels, socio-cultural beliefs, practices and problems in having a stable source of income for livelihood which leads to constant migration. The power dynamics regarding decision making in every household rests with either the males or the elderly of the family thus leaving very little scope for women of the family to make any choices about their own health or nutrition. Hence, these decision-making power dynamics are yet another major reason for driving malnutrition across the life course.