Nutritional status of pre-school children in Manmunai South West (Paddipalai) divisional secretariat area of Batticaloa

This study was conducted with the aim of assessing nutritional status of pre-school children at Paddipalai Divisional Secretariat area of Batticaloa District which is one of the war affected area in Sri Lanka. A sample of 150 subjects was selected from preschools through multi stage sampling techniques. Anthropometric measurements of Weight, Height, Mid Upper Arm Circumference, Hip and Waist were performed using standardized procedure on the preschool children. From those measurements anthropometric indices of Height-for-age, Weight-for-height, and Weight-for-age were generated. Information on socio-economic characteristic of household and dietary pattern of children was gathered by an interview using food frequency questionnaire. Study revealed that, nearly 70% of children's families receiving food aids or food stamps from government. Most of their parent's income level was under the poverty level of Rs.3000 per month. About 72.2% of the parent's education level was below the G.C.E (O/L) and rate of literacy of them around 27%. The student's meat intake frequency was monthly basis and they consume egg, milk and fruit at fortnight basis. Children showed a considerable risk for being stunted (65%), wasting (61%) and underweight (80%). It is also found that, girls had higher nutritional risk than boys. It is concluded that, the nutritional status of pre-school children in the Paddipalai Divisional Secretariat in Batticaloa district is very poor and civil unrest, unfavorable climatic changes are associated with malnutrition of children

Effect of pumping duration on irrigation water quality at farmer's field of Kaluthawalai coastal village of Batticaloa district

Rapidly growing human populations with its attendant needs for water and food supplies have resulted in global exploitation of available water and land resources. Over exploitation of groundwater has become a common issue along the coastal areas of Batticaloa district and consequently, many coastal regions in the district experience extensive saltwater intrusion in aquifers resulting deterioration of the quality of groundwater resources. Therefore, this study was conducted during the period between July to August 2009, with a view of assessing irrigation water quality with pumping duration at the farmers field of Kaluthawalai coastal village. The irrigation water samples were collected from wells in different locations at 30 minutes time interval. Collected water samples were analyzed for pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), cation concentrations (Na, Ca and Mg) and Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR). Then the results were statistically analyzed to find the correlation between water quality parameters and pumping duration. Correlation study revealed that EC (r = 0.317, pO.05) and TDS (r = 0.308, p<0.05) of irrigation water showed significant positive correlation whereas, sodium (r = 0.087, p > 0.05), magnesium (r = 0.106, p > 0.05) and sodium adsorption ratio (r = 0.090, p > 0.05) of irrigation water showed non-significant positive correlation with pumping duration. Calcium (r - -0.083, p > 0.05) and pH (r = -0.074, p > 0.05) showed non-significant negative correlation with duration of pumping. Further, this study reveals that, EC and TDS concentrations are increasing with the pumping duration in study site and it will affect the crop yield by deteriorating the soil in long run. Therefore, proper management practices such as improve the drainage, intermittent irrigation practices and the use of drip irrigation method might be the solutions for the existing water quality problem in the study area