Impact of milk on malnutrition and cognitive skills among school children: Evidence from gift milk initiative from a tribal state of India

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of fortified milk on various aspects of growth and development among school children in a tribal-predominant district of Jharkhand, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A longitudinal study was planned in 16 schools (eight in intervention group and eight in control group) of Latehar district of Jharkhand in India. Out of the total 962 study participants, only 528 study participants were considered in study analysis, who were present both during baseline and endline study after 1 year of milk introduction. The study participants were assessed for nutrition, intelligence quotient, and hemoglobin levels with the help of study tools and instruments. RESULTS: The decrease in malnutrition was more evident in the intervention group during endline assessment, with 95% confidence interval (95% CI; 7.37, 7.42) and 95% CI (10.63, 10.58) for the difference in proportion in the intervention and control groups for stunting and thinness, respectively. This was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Anemia also improved with better cognition in the intervention group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In our study, beneficial effects of milk on malnourished children were evident, particularly in combating stunting and thinness, and it also had a positive impact on cognitive skills in school children.