A Cross-Sectional Study of Awareness & Consumption Pattern of Millets among Women in Udaipur

Background: Millets, often termed “nutri-cereals,” are rich in nutrients, environmentally sustainable, andsuitable for cultivation in low-input agricultural systems. Despite their benefits, millet consumption has declinedin urban India. Women, as key decision-makers in household diets, play a crucial role in influencing foodchoices.Objectives: To evaluate the level of awareness, types of millets consumed, frequency and methods ofconsumption, and socio-demographic factors influencing millet awareness among women in Udaipur.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted over six months (Nov 2023–April 2024)among 120 women aged ≥18 years residing in the Urban Health Training Center (UHTC) field practice area,Dhanmandi, Udaipur. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Sampling involved simplerandom selection of streets followed by systematic selection of households. Data were analyzed using SPSS;chi-square test was used for categorical data, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.Results: The mean age of participants was 39.3±13.62 years. Most were Hindu (80.8%), homemakers (83.3%),and belonged to the lower-middle socio-economic class (56.6%). Awareness of millets was reported by 63.3%of participants. Religion (p=0.00001), socio-economic status (p=0.0008), dietary habits (p=0.000012), andlifestyle (p=0.035) were significantly associated with millet awareness. Among those aware, barnyard millet(93.4%) and foxtail millet (82.9%) were most commonly consumed. Khichdi (97.4%) and rab (72.3%) were themost frequently prepared millet dishes. Boiling (94.7%) was the predominant method of preparation. Only 2.3%consumed millets daily; most (41.9%) consumed them weekly.Conclusion: Although awareness of millets was moderate, regular consumption remains low. Socio-cultural anddietary factors significantly influence awareness and consumption patterns. Targeted nutrition education andimproved availability of millet-based products could enhance their integration into urban diets, supporting bothpublic health and sustainable agriculture