Nutritional status of schoolchildren in an urban area of Sri Lanka

Abstract Background Nutritional status is an important indicator for measuring quality of life in children. A region that is recovering from war will face many problems related to nutrition. Very few studies have addressed the nutritional problems in school children. This study was undertaken to identify the prevalence of wasting, stunting and obesity among school children from Northern Sri Lanka and associated socio-demographic factors. Methods A community based cross-sectional study was carried out using multistage stratified proportionate cluster among healthy children attending schools in the Northern part of the country. Height and weight were measured, and Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated [weight (kg)/Height (m) 2]. BMI-for-age z-score (BAZ) and Height for age Z (HAZ) scores were determined and WHO growth references were used to categorise the nutritional status. Correlation between various nutritional problems with Maternal education, household income, number of family members and the residential area was assessed. Results A total of 1012 children were recruited, and the mean age and standard deviation were 11.12±1.77 yrs. Girls in the age ranges of 9–14 were heavier and taller when compared to the boys compatible with the pubertal growth spurt. Stunting based on the height for age was seen in 10.9% of boys and 11.8% of girls. Wasting based on BMI for age WHO standard (WHO 2007) was seen in 30.6% of boys and 29.1% of the girls. The prevalence of overweight was 11% and Obesity was 6.3% of the population. Obesity was predominantly seen in boys (4.2%) and it was significantly higher when compared to the girls (2.1%) (p < 0.001). Obesity in older boys (> 10 years) was significantly more than the younger ones (p < 0.01). Maternal education and family income had a significant impact on the prevalence of wasting, stunting and obesity whereas the family size contributed to the wasting and obesity (p< 0.001). Conclusion Findings suggest that stunting, wasting, overweight and obesity are prevalent among 6–16-year-old leading to concerns in public health. The nutritional status significantly varies according to the geographical location, maternal education and the household income.

Download Full-text

Optimal Sizing and Economic Evaluation of a Photovoltaic Integrated Energy System - A Case Study for a Semi-Urban Area in Sri Lanka

2020 5th IEEE International Conference on Recent Advances and Innovations in Engineering (ICRAIE) ◽

10.1109/icraie51050.2020.9358285 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Anushika Bandara ◽

K.T.M.U Hemapala ◽

Akila Herath

Keyword(s):

Economic Evaluation ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

Urban Area ◽

Energy System ◽

Optimal Sizing ◽

System A ◽

Integrated Energy System

Download Full-text

Assessment of Women participation in Agriculture in Vavuniya district, Sri Lanka

International Journal of Social Sciences and Management ◽

10.3126/ijssm.v3i3.15137 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 159-162

Author(s):

Gopalakrishnan Tharani ◽

Mohamed Sameem Roshan Akther ◽

Nanthakumaran Ananthini

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

Multiple Regression ◽

Urban Area ◽

Rural Area ◽

Rural Women ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Agricultural Activities ◽

Urban And Rural Areas ◽

Women Participation

An attempt was made to assess the women contribution towards agriculture in Vavuniya district, Sri Lanka. 60 farm family households' women were randomly selected from rural and urban area of Kovilkulam AI region of Vavuniya district in Sri Lanka and the data were collected by constructed questionnaire. The objectives of this study are to identify the factors contributing women participation in agriculture, to identify the constraints faced by the women in participating agriculture and to evaluate the women participation in decision making activity in agriculture. Minitab 15 and MS excel were used for data analysis. The level of women participation in agricultural activities was found out using chi-square test and the factors contributing for women participation in agricultural activities were identified using multiple regression analysis in urban and rural areas separately (α=0.05). The results revealed that 90% of the rural women respondents and 50% of the urban respondents participated in the agricultural activities which is a significant difference. The mean values of women participation in agricultural activities in urban and rural areas were 77 hours and 836 hours per annum respectively. The multiple regression model for women participation in urban area found that the participation of women negatively correlated with status of employment, age and education level (p=0.000). In rural area, age and educational level were negatively influencing on women participation in agricultural activities (p=0.000). R-square values of fitted regression models were 72 % and 91% in urban and rural area respectively 72% and 91% variation in respective women participation were explained by these models. The obstacles for the women in participation in agricultural activities were reported as lack of knowledge and training in agriculture field, family burden, cultural and social barriers and physical constraints. 60% of women from rural areas and 90% of women from urban areas were involved in decision making especially in the selection of crops and varieties for planting and livestock rearing. Enhancing the awareness and the technical knowledge to the women in the field of agriculture would contribute to increase income from agriculture at household level, district level and finally at national level. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 3, Issue-3: 159-162

Download Full-text

A community-based cross-sectional study on the nutritional status of children less than 5 years of age using Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure in a semi-urban area of northern Tamil Nadu

International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences ◽

10.26452/ijrps.v11ispl2.2154 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (SPL2) ◽

pp. 124-131

Author(s):

Anuhya B ◽

Nisha B ◽

Ruma Dutta ◽

Timsi Jain

Keyword(s):

Nutritional Status ◽

Urban Area ◽

Tamil Nadu ◽

Composite Index ◽

Major Public Health Problem ◽

Community Based ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Under Five ◽

Under Five Children ◽

Nutritional Status Of Children

Malnutrition among under-five children is a major public health problem all around the world. About more than 30% of the malnutrition world-wide is prevalent in southern Asia, a significant proportion of which is contributed by India. It is well known that malnutrition is frequently a part of a vicious cycle that includes poverty and infections, which can last a life-time and may also affect the next generations. This study aims to assess the nutritional status of children less than 5 years in a semi-urban area of Tamil Nadu using a composite index of anthropometric failure. A cross-sectional community-based study was undertaken among 168 children and anthropometric measurements were taken. Using conventional Z score indicators, 22.62% of the children were found to be stunted, 43.45% of the children were underweight and wasting was found in 45.83% of the children. Whereas using CIAF, the results were found to be 38.69% (no failure), 11.90% (Only wasting), 23.21% (Wasting and underweight), 11.31% (Wasting, underweight and Stunting), 6.55% (Stunting and underweight) 5.36% (Only stunting) and 2.98% (Only underweight). There was an unacceptably high prevalence of malnutrition among under-five children. Therefore, using CIAF showed better classification of undernutrition than conventional indicators. Also, health institutions at all levels should integrate nutrition as a health component and there is a need to educate the parents to provide age-appropriate energy-rich, locally available and nutritionally balanced food items. Accelerating the reduction in under-5 mortality is possible by expanding effective preventive and curative interventions that target the main causes of undernutrition. This will, in the long run, help in making this nation healthier, stronger, and more prosperous.

Download Full-text

Nutritional status of school children living in Northern part of Sri Lanka

10.21203/rs.3.rs-32024/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Gitanjali Sathiadas ◽

A Annieston ◽

V Arunath ◽

T Kasthuri ◽

V P Wickramasinghe

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

School Children ◽

Household Income ◽

Maternal Education ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

The Body ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Important Indicator ◽

Height For Age

Abstract Background Nutritional status is an important indicator for measuring quality of life in children. A region that is recovering from war will face many problems related to nutrition. Very few studies have addressed the nutritional problems in school-going children. This study was undertaken to identify the prevalence of wasting, stunting and obesity of school children from Northern Sri Lanka and associated socio-demographic factorsMethods A community based cross-sectional study was carried out using multistage stratified proportionate cluster among healthy children attending schools in the Northern part of the country. Height and weight were measured and the Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated [weight (kg)/Height (m) ²]. BMI-for-age z-score (BAZ) and Height for age Z (HAZ) scores were determined and WHO growth references were used to categorise the nutritional status of the children. Correlation between various nutritional problems with Maternal education, household income, number of family members and the residential area was assessed. Results A total of 1012 children were recruited, and the mean age and standard deviation were 11.12±1.77yrs. Girls in the age ranges of 9-14 were heavier and taller when compared to the boys compatible to the pubertal growth spurt. Stunting based on the height for age was seen in 10.9% of boys and 11.8% of girls. Wasting based on BMI for age WHO standard (WHO 2007) was seen in 30.6% of boys and 29.1% of the girls. The prevalence of overweight was 11% and Obesity was 6.3% of the population. Obesity was predominantly seen in boys (4.2%) and it was significantly higher when compared to the girls (2.1%) (p <0.001). Older boys (>10 years) were significantly affected more than the younger ones (p <0.01). The prevalence of wasting, stunting, overweight and obesity had significant variations in different educational zones comparable with the geographical areas. Maternal Education and Family income had a significant impact on the prevalence of stunting and obesity. (p<0.001) whereas the family size significantly contributed to the wasting and obesity. Conclusion Findings suggest that stunting, wasting, overweight and obesity are prevalent among 6-16-year-old leading to concerns in public health. The nutritional status significantly vary according to the geographical location maternal education and the household income.

Download Full-text