Browsing by Author "D.K. Agarwal"

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Anaemia and mental functions in rural primary school children
(1989) D.K. Agarwal; S.K. Upadhyay; K.N. Agarwal; R.D. Singh; A.M. Tripathi
Mental functions of 388 (6-8 years of age) rural primary school children matched for social and educational status were assessed in relation to anaemia and nutritional status. Malin's intelligence scale for Indian children and an arithmetic test were administered to assess intelligence, attention and concentration. No significant differences were found between the IQ scores of anaemic and non-anaemic groups, except for the subtest digit span. In contrast, there was an effect of nutritinal status on IQ scores. Observations on the arithmetic test showed that anaemia is associated with lower levels of attention and concentration.
Assessment of vitamin A status.
(1990) D.K. Agarwal; M.N. Singh
[No abstract available]
Bacteriological study of Ganges water at Varanasi
(1976) D.K. Agarwal; S.D. Gaur; P.C. Sen; S.M. Marwah
[No abstract available]
Bacteriology of weaning foods in some areas of Varanasi
(1982) D.K. Agarwal; S. Chandra; B.D. Bhatia; S.C. Sanyal
Mothers of 106 children of 6 to 24 months of age (37 urban, 39 urban slum and 30 rural), were interviewed to find out the weaning foods being used for their children. One hundred and fifty samples of actual weaning food being fed to children were collected in sterile containers for bacteriological studies. Dal, rice or mixture of rice and dal were the most commonly used weaning foods (35.3, 19.8 and 33.6% respectively). Fifty-eight per cent of the weaning food samples yielded positive cultures for E. coli indicating high fecal contamination. The other organisms isolated were K. pneumonae, Ps. aeruginosa, S. fecalis and Citrobacter.
Biochemical changes in saliva of malnourished children
(1984) P.K. Agarwal; K.N. Agarwal; D.K. Agarwal
The protein concentration and activity of arginase enzymes in serum and saliva was estimated in a total of 94 children out of which 52 were suffering from protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and 42 served as controls. The salivary ferritin was also estimated in 41 children (control eight and PEM 33). There was a progressive fall in serum and salivary arginase activity and levels of salivary protein and ferritin with severity of PEM. The salivary ferritin showed very significant fall even in PEM grade I. In PEM grade III the mean ferritin value was 3.28 ± 0.75 μg/L as compared to 169.3 ± 21.9 μg/L for normal children. The changes in salivary protein, arginase activity, and ferritin in PEM may be used in recognizing severity as well as early stage of the disease.
Birth Weight Patterns in Rural Undernourished Pregnant Women
(2002) S. Agarwal; A. Agarwal; A.K. Bansal; D.K. Agarwal; K.N. Agarwal
Objective: To study the birth weight pattern in chronic as well as currently undernourished pregnant women. Design: Prospective study of rural pregnant women by following eligible women. Setting: Two adjoining blocks of rural Varanasi. Methods: 3700 pregnant women from rural areas of Varanasi for whom data for anthropometry, hemoglobin, dietary intake, birth weight, fundal height and abdominal girth at 16±2, 28±2 and 36±2 weeks of gestation were recorded. Outcome measure was birth weight pattern of newborns. Results: Of the births, 7.2% were <2250 g and 27.4% <2500 g. The weekly birth weight increments in gestation 36-42 weeks were 5-53 g, only. The fundal height did not increase during 35-39 weeks of gestation (lower by 5 cm as compared to normal). Nutrition supplement in the third trimester significantly increased fundal height and abdominal girth. Fundal height below 24.5 cm at 28 weeks of gestation (1368 women) was associated with higher low birth weight deliveries. Conclusions: Birth weight and fundal height increments during later pregnancy are low in undernourished pregnant women. Fundal height <24.5 cm at 28 weeks of gestation identified women with higher risk for lowbirth weight infants. The prevalence of low birth weight was 27.4% and of prematurity was 6.6%.
Brain MRI and cognitive evoked potentials in rural chronically undernourished children
(Elsevier Inc., 1996) U.K. Misra; J. Kalital; Sunil Kumar; H. Poptani; D.K. Agarwal; K.N. Agarwal
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cognitive evoked potentials were studied in 21 (10-13 year of age) rural undernourished children (2 were female). 17 healthy age and sex matched volunteers. Their neurological examination was normal and all were right handed. Three undernourished and 2 control children had hyperintense signals on T2 in MRI. The anterior and posterior hemispheric asymmetry was less pronounced in undernourished children (P < 0.01). P3 latency although was normal but the amplitudes of P2 and P3 were higher in the study group in all derivations (P < 0.01). This is consistent with a compensatory phenomenon following earlier nutritional deprivation.
Developmental lag in preschool children of goitrous mothers
(1983) S.K. Upadhyay; K.N. Agarwal; A. Rani; S. Cherian; A.M. Tripathi; D.K. Agarwal
[No abstract available]
Dietary intakes of urban and rural pregnant, lactating and non-pregnant, non-lactating vegetarian women of Varanasi
(1981) B.D. Bhatia; D. Banerjee; D.K. Agarwal; K.N. Agarwal
A total of 184 pregnant, 95 lactating and 20 non-pregnant, non-lactating (NPNL) vegetarian women from the urban and rural areas of Varanasi were subjected to analysis of their dietary intakes. The diets of both pregnant and lactating women were inadequate in calories, calcium, retinol and riboflavin, as compared to the Indian Council of Medical Research recommendations. The pregnant women had also lower intakes of iron and riboflavin. The intakes of urban pregnant women were lower and those of rural pregnant women higher, as compared to their NPNL counterparts. The mean intakes of various nutrients in urban and rural lactating women were higher as compared to the pregnant and NPNL counterparts. The intakes of urban lactating women were higher as compared to rural lactating women. There was inadequate food intake rather than a protein gap.
Effect of mid-day meal programme on physical growth and mental function
(1989) D.K. Agarwal; K.N. Agarwal; S.K. Upadhyay
[No abstract available]
Etiology of maternal and early childhood deficiency anemia
(Springer India, 1986) D.K. Agarwal; B. Bhardwaj; P.N. Singla; A.M. Tripathi; K.N. Agarwal
One hundred mothers from the urban slum and rural areas of Varanasi and their 109 children between 3 months and 3 years of age were studied. The prevalence of anemia in the mothers (Hb<12·0 g%) and their children (Hb<11·0 g%) was 57·0 and 55·0 and 55·0 per cent respectively. The mean age of anemic children (18·4±9·2 months) was higher than that of nonanemic children (15·1±11·3 months). The prevalence of anemia in the children of anemic mothers was 63·5 per cent as compared to 43·5 per cent in the children of non-anemic mothers (p<0·05). This difference could be due to poor maternal iron stores, prolonged breast feeding and higher prevalence of intestinal parasites in the anemic mothers and children (73·8 and 59·9% respectivelty) compared to (19·4 and 2·6%) in their non-anemic counterparts. © 1986 Dr. K C Chaudhuri Foundation.
Evaluation of frequency and dose of iron and other hematinics - An alternative strategy for anemia prophylaxis in rural preschoolers
(1984) B.K. Das; M.S. Bal; A.M. Tripathi; P.N. Singla; D.K. Agarwal; K.N. Agarwal
[No abstract available]
Exterogestate growth: Relationship with maternal body size and dietary intakes
(Springer India, 1983) B.D. Bhatia; D. Banerjee; D.K. Agarwal; K.N. Agarwal
Ninety five lactating women, 18 to 35 yr old were subjected to anthropometric measurements (weight, height and weight for height ratio index) and dietary surveys during first 3 months of lactational period. The exterogestate growth was assessed by recording weight, crown heel length and head circumference of offsprings at birth and at the age of 3 months to find out the daily gains in these anthropometric parameters. The daily increments of various growth parameters of exclusively breast fed infants increased with increasing maternal dietary intakes. The maternal weight for height ratio index (WHRI) was found to have no significant influence on the exterogestate growth of offsprings. The offsprings of small sized monthers (WHRI<0.1772) with poor dietary intakes were born small and their daily increments did not show any catch up growth. © 1983 Dr. K C Chaudhuri Foundation.
Feeding practices in Varanasi district
(1981) G.P. Katiyar; D.K. Agarwal; A.M. Tripathi; K.N. Agarwal
This paper describes infant and child feeding practices in the urban, urban slum, and rural areas of the Varanasi district, India. 784 mothers were interviewed to investigate the feeding pattern of their 893 children, all in the 0-5 year age group. In all groups cow's milk or goat's milk was most frequently used as the first food after birth; boiled water and honey was also frequently used as the first food after birth, especially in rural areas. The first feeding was offered mostly within the first 608 hours of birth in the urban and urban slum areas, within the first 4-6 hours of birth in rural areas. The majority of children in all groups were first put to breast on the 3rd day after birth; colostrum was discarded in 90% of children of the urban slum and rural group, while 63.74% of urban children received colostrum. 53.85% of urban children were breastfed up to 6 months, as compared to 10.21% of those in urban slums, or 12.2% in rural areas; breast feeding was prolonged in the slums and in rural areas, and sometimes beyond 2 years of age in rural areas. 66.67% of children in the urban group were weaned before 6 months, as compared to 40.14% and 33.63% in the slums and in the rural group; weaning was markedly delayed in those last 2 groups; 5-9% of children in rural areas were not weaned at all. While 50.55% of urban children recived solid foods between 7-12 months of age, most of slums and rural areas children received solids between 13-18 months. About 20% of urban children were started on an adult diet by 12 months, and the majority by 18 months; most slum or rural children were started between 18-24 months or after 2 years, respectively. 83.62% of urban infants were given foods such as cereals, meat, curd, brinjial and root vegetables, which not given to other groups' infants because of the belief that they can cause clinical disorders. From these observations it appears that traditional and customary child rearing practices are still prevalent in urban slums and rural areas, and certainly not to the advantage of the growth and development of children. Only education on infant health and nutrition imparted to young mothers would correct such age-old infant feeding practices.
Fetal growth: Importance of maternal body size and dietary intakes during third trimester
(Springer India, 1983) B.D. Bhatia; D. Banerjee; D.K. Agarwal; K.N. Agarwal
One hundred, and eighty four pregnant women in third trimester and their offsprings were studied to find out the effects of maternal body size and nutritional intakes on fetal growth. These mothers were subjected for anthropometric measurements (weight, height and weight for height ratio index) and surve for dietary intakes. The offsprings were assessed for inirauterine growth (weight, crown-heel length and head circumference). Both maternal weight for height ratio index and the dietary intakes were found to influence fetal growth. The fetal growth was significantly retarded, in women with weight for height ratio index <0.167 if the maternal caloric and protein intakes were less than 2000 kcals and 60.0 g respectively. The mean birth weight, with maternal weight for height ratio index group of less than 0.167 but receiving 2000 kcals and 65.0 g of proteins was 2650 g. However, if dietary intakes approached 2300 kcals and 75.0 g proteins in mothers with weight for height ratio index above 0.167, the size of offspring improved (mean birth weight >3000 g, crown-heel length >49.0 cm and head circumference > 33.5 cm). © 1983 Dr. K C Chaudhuri Foundation.
Fetal growth: relationship with maternal dietary intakes
(Springer India, 1983) B.D. Bhatia; D. Banerjee; D.K. Agarwal; K.N. Agarwal
One hundred urban and 85 rural pregnant women in third trimester were subjected for the studies of dietary intakes and the body size (weight for height ratio index). The intrauterine growth of newborn infants was assessed at birth by weight, crown-heel length and head circumference. The fetal growth improved significantly with increasing maternal caloric and protein intakes. The mean values of weight, crown-heel length and head circumference of newborn infants were significantly higher in mothers receiving more than 2000 kcals and 75g of proteins as compared to the mean values observed for newborns of mothers with dietary caloric and protein intakes less than 1500 kcals and 45.0g respectively in both urban and rural subjects. No significant difference was observed in the growth parameters of newborn infants with further increase in the maternal caloric intake above 2000 kcals. Further the total protein intake influenced the newborn's weight significantly irrespective of the animal protein content. © 1983 Dr. K C Chaudhuri Foundation.
Growth and behavior development in rural infants in relation to malnutrition and environment.
(1992) S.K. Upadhyay; A. Saran; D.K. Agarwal; M.P. Singh; K.N. Agarwal
A group of 224 children from a rural cohort of 625 children registered from 1981 to 1983 in 10 villages of KV Block, Varanasi was assessed for morbidity, physical growth, and behavior development (Gesell's developmental schedule). By first birthday children of normal nutrition grade were reduced to one fourth and numbers in Grade II and III malnutrition doubled. This deterioration in nutritional status was probably due to high morbidity, i.e., gastrointestinal, respiratory infections, etc. The skull circumference was 43 cm at the age of one year, being lower by 3 cm than the average size. Children having Grades II and III malnutrition showed poor development in all the areas of behavior, i.e., motor, adaptive, language and personal social. Besides malnutrition, environmental factors like mother's involvement in teaching, encouraging the child, talking to him or being within the visual range; the parental education, their caste and the child's birth order contributed significantly to the development of the child during infancy.; The goal of this study was to better understand the risk of developing malnutrition, the age of onset and its severity, and common morbidities and causes of mortality. The aim was also to determine whether malnutrition or other behavioral factors affected behavior development. A cohort of 625 children born between November 1981 and March 1983 from 10 rural villages in KV Block, Varanasi, India, was registered and followed for 1 year. Data from 224 children, who provided continuous data for at least 4 age points out of 5, was analyzed. Information was obtained on morbidity, physical growth, and behavior based on Gesell's development schedule. Children were grouped based on degrees of malnutrition (weight-for-age schedule of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics) at 4, 16, 28, and 52 weeks. Some Caldwell Home Inventory items and other environmental and socioeconomic measures were obtained by questionnaire. The village population mirrored the characteristics of the 120,000 rural population in the surrounding 112 villages covering 147 sq. miles. The male/female ratio was 10009:39. Infant mortality rates were 133/1000 live births; neonatal mortality rates were 64/1000 live births. 26% have low birth weight (2500 g). 13% of preschool children suffer from severe malnutrition and 50% from mild malnutrition. 79.4% of mothers and 21.2% of fathers were illiterate. 56% had an income of less than Rs.100/year/capita. The findings showed that the height and weight of study children declined from the 20th centile at 3 months to the 3rd centile after 6 months. By 1 year, those children with normal nutrition were reduced by 25% and the numbers of children with Grade II and III malnutrition doubled. Underfeeding as well as high morbidity may be responsible for the deterioration. The skull circumference was 3 cm smaller than the average of 43 cm at 1 year of age. All areas of behavioral development were poorer among children with Grade II and III malnutrition. Environment influenced development later in infancy, particularly mother's teaching, encouraging, or talking and parental education, caste, and birth order.
Growth standards for urban and urban slum area infants of Varanasi
(1978) G.P. Katiyar; D.K. Agarwal; R.C. Yadav
[No abstract available]
Growth, behavior, development and intelligence in rural children between 1-3 years of life.
(1992) D.K. Agarwal; A. Awasthy; S.K. Upadhyay; P. Singh; J. Kumar; K.N. Agarwal
In a rural cohort of 625 children registered from 1981 to 1983 in 10 villages of K.V. Block, Varanasi, 196 children were assessed for physical growth, development, intelligence and concept development between 1 and 3 years of age. Home environment was also assessed using Caldwell Home inventory. These rural children remained below 3rd centile of NCHS standard for weight, height, skull and mid-arm circumferences throughout the study. Malnourished children scored poorly in all the areas of development, i.e., motor, adaptive, language and personal social, 9% in Grade I and 16.6% children in Grade II + III had IQ less than 79 (inferior). Concept for color shape and size was poorly developed in malnourished children. Maternal involvement and stimulation was strongly associated with better behavior development and intelligence. Multiple regression analysis showed that the effect of home environment on development and intelligence was of a higher magnitude as compared to status and family variables and nutritional status during 1-3 years of age.; The effects of nutrition and home environment on behavior development and intelligence of mild, moderate, and severely malnourished children are examined for a sample population of 196 children born in 1981-83 from 10 villages of Kashi Vidyapeeth Block of Varanasi district, India. Development was followed from the 1st year of life until 3 years of age. Children were grouped by degree of malnutrition at 18, 24, 30, and 36 months using the National Center for Health Statistics 50th centile weight for age as a reference point. Gesell's developmental schedule was also administered at the aforementioned ages. Some of the Caldwell Home Inventory and socioeconomic measures were used to measure home environment. The general characteristics of the villages mirror the larger rural population of 112 villages in the area. The developmental quotient (DQ) for motor, adaptive, language, and personal social areas was determined for the Gesell inventory, and the Binet Kulshrestha Intelligence Scale was used to determine level of cognitive ability at 36 months. Concept development was measured with the Block-Sort test. The findings indicate that all children were below the 3rd percentile for height and weight at all ages. Head and chest circumference mean values were statistically significantly below the average for affluent Varanasi children at all ages. The mid-arm circumference was below the 3rd centile, which indicates moderate to severe undernutrition. 50-60% of children were malnourished at Grade II and III. DQ decreased with the severity of malnutrition; scores for all except personal social development were below average for children with Grade III malnutrition. Significant differences in language and social development scores were found between Grade II and III malnourished and normal children, even with increases at 36 months for motor, language, and social behavior scores. Inferior IQ scores were found for 9% of Grade I malnourished and 16.6% of Grade II and III malnourished children. There were significant differences in scores between the normal, Grade I, and Grade II and III scores. The most critical period for delays is 10-12 months, when home environment vitally influences physical growth and mental development.
Hemoglobin, hematocrit and red cell count in school children
(1973) K.N. Agarwal; P.C. Khanduja; D.K. Agarwal
The hemoglobin, hematocrit, red cell count and red cell indices were investigated in 2624 children. A rise in hemoglobin, hematocrit and red cell count with increasing age was noted. The mean hemoglobin value was over 12 gm% in all age groups for boys and girls. The mean corpuscular volume, the mean corpuscular hemoglobin and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration did not alter significantly with age and sex.