Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0020505 (hyperphagia)
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In India, major social discrepancies linger despite major advances since 1947 with the result of overeating by the rich and undernutrition of the poor. Anemia affected 65% of pregnant women in Hyderabad hospitals, and in Calcutta it hovered around 88.5-90/1% for males and 96.5-96.7% for females aged 15-44. Malnutrition accounted for 15% of hospitalizations often because of infant diarrhea. Parasitic infestations leading to anemia and subsequent malnutrition also resulted in premature births and low birth weight. Weaning practices including its late initiation and prolongation of breast feeding for up to 12 months (or 18 months in rural areas) led to growth retardation. About 25,000 children become blind annually because of vitamin A deficiency, and 55% of women also suffer from it. Almost 120-170 million people suffer from endemic goiter. Socio economic and socio cultural factors are also associated with nutritional problems. Some Brahmin communities in South India avoid garlic and onions because they are considered taboo foods. The Tridosha Theory holds the there are heat-producing foods, cooling foods, and gas-producing foods that have to be avoided. Some of these are brown sugar, eggs, tomatoes, oranges, cereals, and vegetables. In West Bengal they believe that milk and fish can cause leprosy. The population nearing 800 million is another factor, as smaller families have better nutrition. Education by nurses should include the use of exhibits, songs, and plays to teach women proper nutrition. Nurses also have to change their attitudes to avoid commercial foods, identify harmful practices, and promote nutritional education. The project of the National Institute of Nutrition involving 23 villages combated vitamin A deficiency successfully by laying stress on available vegetables and fruits. If nurses participate if such primary health care programs the objectives of Health for All by 2000 will be achieved.
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PMID:Nutrition: an essential element of primary health care. 272 85