• Bharti Samir Shah
• Dr. Jagmeet Madan
• Dr. Meeta Singh

The population-based research was undertaken to study dietary calcium intake per day in 620 perimenopausal and 590 post-menopausal women aged between 40 to 61 years across three socioeconomic strata (SES) in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bidar. A multi-stage, stratified sampling design was used for the selection of the study population. Validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ)was used to collect information on participant’s frequency and quantity of food intake. The sociodemographic information including the SES was gathered using the Kupusamy questionnaire (2019). Descriptive statistics and One- way ANOVA test was conducted using SPSS version 20. A p - value less than 0.05 was considered significant. The diet diversity score across the three cities ranged from 4.5 to 5.1 Mumbai (5.08), Hyderabad (4.5) and Bidar (4.9), moderate as per FAO (2010) criteria. A consistent decline in mean dietary calcium intake(mg)/ day was observed from high to low-income group in perimenopausal women [(Mumbai- upper socioeconomic strata=667.0±227.1, lower socioeconomic strata=366.3±106.4), (Hyderabad- upper socioeconomic strata=637.0±318.5 and lower socioeconomic strata=469.2±169.7), (Bidar- upper socioeconomic strata=496.8±170.4and lower socioeconomic strata=390.9±124.9)] and in post-menopausal women [(Mumbai- upper socioeconomic strata=551.6±144.1and lower socioeconomic strata=461.2±120.8), (Hyderabad- upper socioeconomic strata=577.5±180.3 and lower socioeconomic strata=458.6±256.6), (Bidar- upper socioeconomic strata=521.0±173.6 and lower socioeconomic strata=427.2±188.4)]. ANOVA test showed significant association in dietary calcium intakes between perimenopausal and post-menopausal women {Mumbai (f= 49.905, p=0.000), Hyderabad (f=3.854, p=0.022), Bidar (f=14.660, p=0.000)}. The association between the dietary calcium intakes and economic status was proved to be highly significant(p=<0.001). The mean dietary calcium intake(mg/day) of subjects in both the groups was found to be grossly deficient (Mumbai (542.4±221.1), Hyderabad (526.3±169.7) and Bidar (442.8±124.9) for perimenopausal women meeting only 70% of EAR and 55 % of RDA and (Mumbai (520.0±141.6), Hyderabad (505.5±129.8) and Bidar (495.4±169.4) for postmenopausal women and meeting only 50% of EAR and 44 % of RDA. The study highlights the inadequate intake of calcium in the perimenopausal and post-menopausal women across all strata in TIER ONE and TIER TWO cities of different states in India. Hence, there is need for implementing a multifaceted approach to combat dietary calcium deficiency and promote better bone health and overall well-being in communities.

Dietary calcium, perimenopausal, post-menopausal, socioeconomic strata.

"Dietary Calcium intake status by Socioeconomic Strata in Peri and Postmenopausal Women of Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bidar- A Population Based Study", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 2, page no.f475-f492, February-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2402559.pdf

"Dietary Calcium intake status by Socioeconomic Strata in Peri and Postmenopausal Women of Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bidar- A Population Based Study", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 2, page no. ppf475-f492, February-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2402559.pdf