Post-Disaster food habits and Dietary Pattern of the Women in southwest Bangladesh

The study was conducted to explore the Post-Disaster Food Habits and Dietary Pattern of the Women in South-west Bangladesh. The specific objectives of the study were to identify the food habits of women in post-disaster period, know about the risk of health and diseases through food habits and dietary patterns assessment, and know about vitamin deficiencies through clinical signs of potential nutritional deficiencies and to assess general awareness and practices regarding health by taking food and proper dietary pattern. For this reason, two villages namely Jaliakhali and Channirchak of 3 no. ward under the 6 no. Kamerkhola union of Dacope upazilla under the district of Khulna in south west coastal region in Bangladesh was chosen purposely as the study area. The population of the study area was women whose age between (15-50) currently living in the aforementioned study area around seven years and women who are already affected to various disaster. Basically women were most vulnerable in disasters than men through their socially conducted roles and responsibilities, and their relatively poorer and more economically vulnerable position, especially in the developing countries like Bangladesh. A total of 196 women were selected by using simple random sampling. The study was explanatory in nature. Survey method was used to collect primary data from the relevant field. Data were collected through direct interview following an interview schedule during August, September 2015. Findings of the study reveal the women vulnerable condition in post disaster period. In addition, traditional socio-cultural practices in household work patterns can also increase women's possibility of being malnourished. Inadequate food habits and dietary pattern among women creates poor economic situation for family members and countries because malnutrition decreases women's ability to work and can create worse effects that extend through generations. The average result shows that 24.51 percent respondents had excellent dietary pattern in pre-disaster period and only 12.75 percent in post-disaster period. On the other hand, 23.47 percent women had extremely unhealthy poor dietary pattern in post- disaster period. As a result, they are deprived of proper standard of living and loss their subordinate position in the family. In post-disaster period they mainly eat rice, ata, potato, vegetables, kolmishak, kochushak, shapla etc. Government and some NGOS/INGOs are trying to reduce the vulnerability of people in coastal areas. It was also notice that proper policy, planning and good governance can also take initiatives to supply proper food governance can also take initiatives to supply proper food intake of women in post-disaster situation. 

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