Publications

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020 resulted in school closures with eventual suspension of the mid-day meal programme, biannual deworming and  iron-folic acid supplements. One year into the lockdown, we evaluated the impact  of the withdrawal of these programmes on the nutritional status of rural  primary-school children, aged 6-12 years, in Karnataka, India. METHODS:  Anthropometry, haemoglobin, serum ferritin and C reactive protein were measured  in 290 children at two time points, 1 year apart, starting from just before the  lockdown (February 2020 to February 2021). RESULTS: The prevalence of anaemia  doubled from 21% to 40% (p<0.0001) with more pronounced changes in older girls  (10%-53%); however, the prevalence of iron deficiency did not change  (48.8%-51.9%), despite cessation of deworming and iron/folic acid supplements.  CONCLUSION: The increase in anaemia was due to limiting intakes of other  erythropoietic nutrients, possibly due to a lower dietary diversity. The mid-day  lunch meal at school (MDM) is an important part of daily food intake in rural  school children, and it is important to maintain dietary diversity through the  delivery of MDM for such vulnerable groups.