Abstract:
Descriptive cross sectional study was carried out to asses the nutritional status and some
selected factors affecting it among children of 1-5 years of fishing families residing in the
DDHS area Ambalangoda. the study revealed that the prevalence of underweight was 31
while stunting and wasting were 23 and 11.3 respectively. Ability of father to read and
understand a written documents was found to be significantly associated with stunting.
Mother's ability to read and understand written documents was found to be significantly
associated with underweight and wasting. Father's habit of smoking was significantly
associated with underweight and stunting of children, while his alcohol consumption was
significantly related to children being underweight, stunting and wasting. Frequent quarrels
and family disputes were associated with all three forms of under nutrition; stunting,
wasting and underweight at a higher level of significant. Method of disposal of child excreta
was also associated with underweight of children significantly. More than one third of the
population was suffering from upper respiratory tract infections during preceding three
weeks of the study. Males were found to be more undernourished than females. No
significant association was found existing between the level of education of parents and the
nutritional status of children
