Nutritional status and dietary intake of the population aged 1-60 years during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka.

Background: There is a co-existence of different forms of malnutrition leading to a Triple Burden of Malnutrition (TBM) in Sri Lanka. Accessing basic needs and services was a challenge during COVID-19 pandemic, which led to issues in food security with an effect on nutrition status of the population. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of malnutrition and dietary intakes of the population aged 1 to 60 years. Methods: This study was conducted in 2021. A multistage cluster sample was drawn to represent households at national level using 75 clusters, and 24-hour dietary recalls were compared with estimated average requirements of different age groups. Height and weight of all selected participants were measured. Results: A total of 1776 households and 2991 individuals were studied. The prevalence of wasting, stunting and overweight of children aged 1-4 years (n=486) was 14%, 16.3% and 0.8% respectively. Thinness, stunting, overweight and obesity of children aged 5-9 years (n=388) was 21.4%, 8.5%, 5.2%, 5.1%; children aged 10-17 years (n=355) was 21.1%, 14.1%,11%, 8.2%; and adults aged 18-60 years (n=1762) was 9.9%, 5.4%, 32.6% and 11.5% respectively. Dietary intake gaps were minimal with energy and protein while it was wider with majority of vitamins, iron and calcium. Stunting of children aged 1-4 years was significantly associated with the low calcium and iron intakes. Conclusions: The presence of TBM amongst children and adults were observed with a dietary gap of essential micronutrients. This study highlights the need to re-orient the nutritional interventions to control TBM at population level.

When husband migrate: effects of international migration of husbands on fetal outcomes, body mass index and gestational weight of female spouses that stay behind.

BACKGROUND: International labour migration continues to be an integral component in Sri Lanka's economic development. Previous research indicates an adverse perinatal outcome in association with low maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (PBMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG). However, evidence of this association is limited in migrant families. This study aims to investigate the associations between PBMI, GWG among lactating mothers (LM), and fetal outcomes in migrant households, where the father is the migrant worker. METHODS: A secondary data analysis was done using a nationally representative sample of 7,199 LM. There were 284 LM whose husbands were international migrant workers. Maternal factors were taken as PBMI<18.5 kg/m2 and GWG<7kg. Preterm birth and low birth weight (LBW) were taken as fetal outcomes. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess the associated factors. RESULTS: There was significant difference between LM from migrant and non-migrant households with regards to place of residency, ethnicity, household monthly income, household food security, average household members, husband's education and husband's age. Among migrant, PBMI<18.5 kg/m2 was associated with current BMI and mode of delivery. Migrant LM had significantly higher weight gain (≥12 kg) during pregnancy (p=0.005), were multiparous (p=0.008), delivered in private hospital (p=0.000), lesser percentage of underweight (p=0.002) and higher birthweight (p=0.03) than non-migrant LM. Logistic regression model revealed that for each kilogram increment in birthweight and GWG, preterm delivery decreased by 89%(OR=0.11;95%CI:0.04-0.28) and LBW decreased by 12%(OR=0.89;95%CI:0.81-0.97) respectively. Caesarean deliveries were positively associated with low GWG. CONCLUSION: Our study showed LM in migrant families had invested remittances to utilize private health facilities for deliveries, to improve weight gain during pregnancy and adequate PBMI to deliver higher birth weight babies. In depth study is needed to understand further utilisation of remittances to improve fetal outcomes by increasing birthweight and GWG in migrant families.