Nutritional status of elders in Galle district, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Introduction: Geriatric population in Sri Lanka is a potentially vulnerable group for malnutrition. The present study was carried out to assess the nutritional status of elderly in Galle and to identify the relationships of their nutritional status with gender, age, area of residence, level of education and income.

Methods: A cross sectional study was done using a sample of elders aged 60 years and above living in Galle district. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool was used to assess nutritional status.

Results: A total of 396 elders participated in the study. Mean age of the participants was 69 years (SD = 7.2) and the majority were females (n = 268, 67.7%). MNA showed that 0.5% elderly were malnourished and 30.8% were at risk of malnutrition. Older age (p < 0.05), lower monthly family income (p < 0.01), low level of education (p < 0.01), and living in rural areas (p < 0.05) were found to be possible risk factors of malnutrition.

Conclusions: Nutritional status is considerably poor in the elderly in Galle district. Therefore, geriatric nutritional interventions in low income older age elders in rural population segments in the area are needed.