Nutritional status of tea pluckers.on Norwood Estate, Hatton

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine the nutritional status of tea pluckers and to identify factors contributing to anaemia, METHODS: All women tea pluckers of 5 randomly selected divisions of Norwood Estate in Bogawantalawa Plantations, Hatton, were recruited. A dietary survey was carried out using 24 hours recall method. Measurements of height and weight were taken. Haemoglobin (Hb) level in finger prick blood was measured by cyanmethaemoglobin method. Stools were examined for helminth eggs using saline smears and the Kato-Katz technique. Data were analyzed using Epilnfo 6 and SPSS 10. RESULTS: A total of 304 women with a mean age of 37.8 years (SD=8.4) were examined. Mean calorie, protein and iron adequacy were 52.5%, 45.9% and 45.9% respectively. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 18.3 (SD=2.5), while 59.9 % (n=181) were undernourished (BMI<18.5). The mean Hb was 11.02 g/dl (SD=1.45); 76% (n=231) were anaemic (Hb<12 g/dl). 25/248 (10.1%) stool samples examined were hookworm positive. Several variables had a significant association with Hb in bivariate analysis. As most of the variables were related, multiple regression analysis was carried out to identify independent predictor variables. This showed that dietary iron and calorie adequacy, the number of children, and the number of children below 5 years of age, but not hookworm infection, had an independent significant association with Hb. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the study population had evidence of chronic under nutrition as indicated by low BMI and anaemia. Dietary inadequacy of iron appears to contribute more significantly to anaemia than hookworm.infection.