Nutritional Status of Pre -School Children Aged Below 5Years in Manmunaisouth D.S. Division of Batticaloa Ditrict

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess nutritional situation of pre-school children aged 0 to 5 years in Manmunai South D.S. Division of the Batticaloa district. A sample of 150 subjects was selected from the entire refugee Camps through multi-stagesampling techniques.A structured questionnaire was developed to elicit information on demographic details, anthropometric characters, health history, dietary assessments and socio-economic status. Anthropometric measurements were performed using standardized procedure on the pre-school children. Weight and height were measured and anthropometric indices such as height for age, weight for height, and weight for age were generated. Information on socio-economic characteristic of household and dietary pattern of children was gathered by an interview schedule, which includes food frequency questionnaire. The study indicated that 75% boys and 74% of girls of the children are under-weight (low weightfor- age) showing the state of acute malnutrition. Both, boys and girls of 64% are stunted indicating the chronic malnutrition. Prevalence of malnutrition is higher in most of the refugee camps.Among the tested individuals, 65% of the families had been displaced due to Tsunami and still 27% of families live in refugee camps. Fifty four percent of children’s families receive food aids or food stamps from government. Most of their parent’s income level was under the poverty line of LKR: 3,000/month. About 41% of parent’s education level is below the G.C.E. (O/L) and the rate of illiteracy is <11%. The student’s frequency of intake of meat is at monthly basis and they consume egg, milk and fruit at fortnightly basis. Nutritional status of pre-school children aged between 0 to 5 years in the Manmunai South D.S. Division of the Batticaloa district is poor and the civil unrest to be associated with malnutrition of children.