Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
07:56

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Published on: January 29, 2018

Nutritional status of children under five in three state foster care institutions in Sri Lanka

Channa R Jayasekera1

  • 1Duke University Medical Centre, 544 Finley St, Durham, NC 27705, USA. channa.jayasekara@duke.edu

The Ceylon Medical Journal
|December 22, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) is highly prevalent in Sri Lankan foster care children. Rates of PEM, underweight, and wasting were significantly higher than national averages, indicating urgent care improvements are needed.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Nutrition Science

Background:

  • Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) poses a significant threat to child development.
  • Institutionalized children may face unique nutritional challenges.
  • Assessing nutritional status in foster care is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of PEM among children under five in Sri Lankan state-run foster care.
  • To compare institutionalized children's nutritional status with national data.
  • To provide preliminary evidence for improving institutional child care.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study design.
  • Random selection of three state-operated foster care institutions in Sri Lanka.
  • Nutritional assessment of 52 children under five years old.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of PEM was 51.9%.
  • Underweight prevalence was 63.5%, and wasting was 25.0%.
  • These rates were substantially higher than national prevalence figures.

Conclusions:

  • Foster care institutions in Sri Lanka exhibit alarmingly high rates of PEM.
  • Urgent improvements in institutional care are recommended.
  • Further research encompassing all institutionalized children is warranted.

More Related Videos

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children10:57

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children

Published on: August 22, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition01:27

Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition

Parenteral Nutrition (PN) delivers essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. It is commonly used for individuals with severe digestive disorders or conditions that prevent normal nutrient absorption.
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
Metabolic States of the Body: Fasting and Starvation01:24

Metabolic States of the Body: Fasting and Starvation

During the initial hours of fasting, the body uses up its glycogen stores as an energy source. Once these glycogen reserves are depleted, the body begins breaking down stored triglycerides and structural proteins. During this stage, glycerol becomes a key substrate for gluconeogenesis, while free fatty acids undergo beta-oxidation to provide energy for tissues, such as skeletal muscle. In the fasting state, the body spares protein breakdown as much as possible to conserve muscle and structural...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy01:30

Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy

Various diagnostic tests are employed in the diagnostic process for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), particularly to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...
Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II01:30

Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II

Rural Health Centers
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...