Nutritional Profile of Female Nurses in Kerala

Author: Meera D. K., Suma Divakar and Mini Joseph

Download PDF

Abstract

A nurse must be generally healthy to accomplish the duties of their job, which is very demanding. Their food consumption and metabolism are impacted by their stressed lives, which subsequently results in major health issues. This is a cross sectional, comparative study, using purposive sampling technique. The sample consisted of registered female nurses (N=500) aged 25-45 years working in government and private hospitals selected from rural and urban areas of Thiruvananthapuram city. Anthropometry and dietary assessment methods were used to elicit their nutritional status. One sample t test and Chi square test were used for statistical analysis Intake of nutrients was lower among respondents from urban areas compared to rural areas. The important nutrients such as iron, folates, calcium and beta carotene were lower among nurses of all categories which conforms the low intake of these nutrients among Indian women in general, making them highly vulnerable to nutritional anaemia and osteoporosis. There was prevalence of underweight among nurses along with their poor dietary habits. This present study has identified there is a large lacuna in the dietary profile of nurses. There is an urgent need by hospital managements and policy makers to ensure quality nursing service through staff development and training programs.

Keywords

Nurses, shift work, nutritional status, government hospital, private hospital

Conclusion

Intake of nutrients was lower among respondents from urban areas compared to rural areas except for fat, beta carotene and calcium. The mean intake of nutrients among both government and private hospital nurses were lower than the prescribed RDA except protein and fat. The low intake of energy and other nutrients indicates that the intake of food was not sufficient. The important nutrients such as iron, folates, calcium and beta carotene were lower among nurses of all categories which conforms the low intake of these nutrients among Indian women in general, making them highly vulnerable to nutritional anaemia and osteoporosis. Anaemia is a major nutritional problem in India, high levels of anaemia is reported among women in India (53% of all women have anaemia as per the National Family Health Survey 2015–2016) which is of great concern. The National Health Policy (2017) tabled by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, acknowledges this high burden. Besides low intake of beta carotene leads to many other nutritional problems which leads to the other major nutritional problem in India. There was a high prevalence of under nourishment and central obesity among nurses in both sectors. The intake of nutrients in nurses were lower than RDA and this might be the reason for the high prevalence of under nourishment among them. Due to the lack of time, they were not getting sufficient time to have meals and mostly they skipped their meals and depended on light snacks and drinks. Studies have reported that abdominal obesity is more in Asian population when compared to white population because of more body fat relative to weight. In the present study also, it was found so. Respondents belonged to more underweight category with high percent of abdominal obesity. Central obesity has been recognised as an independent risk factor for cardio-metabolic diseases and better predictors of cardiovascular risk than overall obesity (Bastien et al., 2014; Cameron et al., 2012). Central obesity of the nurses indicates the poor participation in physical activities. Majority of nurses after their pregnancy and delivery were not able to reduce their abdominal expansion which might be another reason for the abdominal obesity. Both underweight and central obesity is another indication of poor nutritional status of nurses.

References

-

How to cite this article

Meera D. K., Suma Divakar and Mini Joseph (2022). Nutritional Profile of Female Nurses in Kerala. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(3): 684-689.