Childhood Malnutrition and Paternal Alcohol Consumption

Malnutrition is a critical determinant of morbidity in children inresource-poor countries. 45 % of all deaths in children under five years of ageare associated with malnutrition. The ASHWINI health network has worked withthe Adivasis (indigenous people) of Tamil Nadu, India, for over 30 years, buthas observed an increase in under-5 severe malnutrition from 3% to 8 % since2005. The rise is alarming, given that the childhood malnutrition rate reducedfrom 25 % to 2% between 1990 and 2005, with systematic community-basedinterventions. Alcohol consumption has risen 15% annually since 2005 in Tamil Nadu,in parallel with the rise in malnutrition.The prevalence of moderate-severe depression among Adivasi women isupwards of 20 %. Anecdotal evidence suggests that male alcohol consumptioncontributes to depression among Adivasi women. Furthermore, we believe that maternal depression may bea contributor to childhood malnutrition. We present a case-control study, quantifying alcohol paternalalcohol consumption among Adivasi men with the standardized AUDITquestionnaire, and maternal depression using the PHQ-9 questionnaire, in bothcases and matched controls, using the existing system of community healthworkers, to gather the data. Demonstrating an association would help redesignintervention measures and influence government policy on tackling the alcoholabuse and mental health epidemic.