DIFFERENTIAL IMPACT OF RESIDENTIAL SECTORS ON THE PREVALENCE OF CHILD MALNUTRITION IN SRI LANKA

Abstract

Child malnutrition continues to be a significant global public health challenge, with serious consequences on both social and economic progress. It can lead to stunted growth and low cognitive development which can have long-term impacts on their future. In Sri Lanka, child malnutrition manifests differently across urban, rural, and estate residential sectors, with each area facing unique challenges. This research aims to investigate the differential impact of residential sectors on child malnutrition in the Nuwara-Eliya district. This research was based on primary data and a sample survey was conducted for data gathering using a questionnaire. The sampling method adopted to choose the sample was multi-stage stratified sampling. The sample size, determined using the Krejcie–Morgan table, consisted of 378 participants. The sampling unit was children enrolled in grade 6 at government schools in the Nuwara-Eliya district. The study's analysis involved the application of descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model. Descriptive statistics revealed that the highest prevalence malnutrition among school children has recorded in the estate sector in both aspects of underweight (34%) and stunting (37%). However, in terms of wasting, urban sector recorded the highest malnutrition (33%). Binary logistic model found a statistically significant impact of residential sectors on child malnutrition in the aspect of underweight. P value of Hosmer–Lemeshow test statistics is greater than 0.05 and it justifies the selected logit model for malnutrition in terms of underweight is sufficiently fit with data. The probabilities of being malnourished are 0.16, 0.30 and 0.50 in the rural, urban and estate sectors respectively. Understanding these differential sectorial impacts, with a particular focus on the unique challenges faced by children in different sectors is important for a comprehensive approach to combat malnutrition focusing the sectorial disparities and to develop effective involvements to enhance child nutrition and health outcomes.