Abstract:
The rising number of preschoolers, aged 3-5, who suffer from malnutrition. Due to the
substantial health concerns associated with it, parents and preschoolers should educate
their children about the problems associated with eating unhealthy foods. Therefore,
the present study was carried out to assess the nutritional assessment of preschool
children at Avissawella area in the Western province of Sri Lanka. A cross-sectional
study was carried out by taking a total of 100 students according to the described
formula and a random sampling technique was adopted. They were interviewed by
administering a semi-structured questionnaire. The descriptive analysis was used to
study the socio-demographic and practices related to dietary habits and Pearson's chisquare
was applied to assess the association between variables. The majority of the
participants were kids who are having 4-5 age. The majority of children live in joint
families. A greater proportion of parents finish their AIL education. The income of the
majority of the families ranges between Rs. 30,000-50,000 a month. Of the
consumption of unhealthy food by children 360/o were underweight, 2o/o were
overweight, and 2o/o were obese. Lastly, 84o/o of parents limit their children's intake of
sugary drinks, indicating a focus on maintaining healthier dietary practices. There were
no significant differences (p>0.05) between stunting and the child's gender, type of
family, education level of the mother, or household income. However, there was a
significant difference (p<0.05) between stunting and the father's education level.
Similarly, no significant differences (p>0.05) were found between wasting and the
child's gender, type of family, education levels of the mother or father, or household
income. For overweight/obesity, no significant differences (p>0.05) were observed
concerning the type of family, education levels of the mother or father, or household
income, however, a significant difference (p>0.05) was found between
overweight/obesity and the child's gender. These findings underscore the need for
health promotion programs to address unhealthy dietary habits. The study highlights
the need for targeted nutrition education programs and policy intervention to mitigate
the adverse health effects associated with preschool children. By addressing these
factors, we can promote healthier dietaryhabits and reduce the malnutrition of children.
