Abstract:
This cross sectional comparative study was conducted to identify risk factors that can be
associated with the prevalence of underweight ~t two years age among children born in year
2005 in the Medical Officer of Health area, Medirigiriya and some socio-demographic
factors and other factors such as low birth weight, duration of exclusive breast feeding, total
duration of breast feeding, maternal knowledge on nutrition and feeding of children during
first 2 years and the birth order of the child were compared -between underweight and
normal weight children at 2 years age. 1,062 children were included into the study while
552 were males and 510 were females whose age was from 32 to 45 months to the date of
interview. According to WHO, MGRS growth standards 21.9 percent of males and 20.0
percent of females were underweight at 2 years age. The total figure was 21.5 percent. The
maternal knowledge on breast feeding, on complementary feeding and on feeding during
second year also showed very highly significant (p=0.000) associations with the prevalence
of underweight at 2 years age showing that more knowledgeable the mother less prone the
child to be underweight. Among the other factors, mother's level of education had a
significant (p0.05) association with the prevalence of underweight of females and the
literacy of both mother and the father had highly significant (p O.O I) associations with the
same category while anyone of three variables did not show significant (p0.05) association
with the prevalence of underweight of male children. This study failed to detect significant
associations of the sex of the child, age of father or mother, the level of education of the
father, duration of exclusive breast feeding, the total duration of breast feeding and the birth
order of the child with the prevalence of underweight at 2 years age among males or
females. As this MOH area has higher prevalence of low birth weight in 2005 than the
country and it has shown to have very highly significant association with underweight at 2
years, the stake holders such as Family Health Bureau should take actions to reduce the
prevalence of low birth weight by eliminating the already identified risk factors foe low
birth weight. .The maternal knowledge on nutrition also has very highly significant
association with the prevalence of underweight and this indicates the more and more need in
maternal education on nutrition. The FHB and also the Health Education Bureau (HEB) can
take steps to overcome this problem.
