Nutrient deficiencies are a public health problem in Sri Lanka. Achieving food security is a major challenge due to unhealthy eating patterns. The nutritional status of a woman and her knowledge is a powerful indicator of the nutritional security of her children and household food security. Nutrition-related knowledge and attitude are necessary for dietary changes towards a healthier dietary pattern. For that reason, food and nutrition-related Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) is one of the key factors to achieving household food and nutritional security. The main objective of this study is to assess the food and nutrition-related KAP among reproductive-age women and understanding of household food and nutritional security in Sri Lanka as an example for marginalized societies. Thus, a cross-sectional survey was conducted using the KAP model questionnaire administered on 400 reproductive age women (18–49 Years) in marginalized areas in Sri Lanka. Data were collected using a random sampling method. The research results clearly showed that the reproductive age women have a low level of nutritional knowledge in the areas being investigated. Most women have a positive attitude towards receiving nutritional knowledge but have low-level practice about a healthy diet. Furthermore, knowledge, practices, and attitudes of women largely affect their BMI status, as well as household food security. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the influential factors. There was a highly significant positive correlation between nutritional knowledge, attitude score, and BMI level and a significant difference was found in the area, age, family size, monthly income, educational level, attitudes towards nutrition, food and nutrition practices across the reproductive women (R²:467, p < 0.01). The research results showed that KAP largely determines women’s nutrition and household food security. Based on the results of this research, there is a need to enhance nutritional education in reproductive-age women in marginalized areas in Sri Lanka.

中文翻译：

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斯里兰卡边缘化地区育龄妇女与食品和营养相关的知识、态度和实践。


营养缺乏是斯里兰卡的一个公共卫生问题。由于不健康的饮食模式，实现粮食安全是一项重大挑战。妇女的营养状况及其知识是其子女营养安全和家庭粮食安全的有力指标。营养相关的知识和态度对于改变饮食习惯以实现更健康的饮食模式是必要的。因此，食品和营养相关的知识、态度和实践（KAP）是实现家庭食品和营养安全的关键因素之一。本研究的主要目的是评估育龄妇女中与粮食和营养相关的知识行动计划，并了解斯里兰卡作为边缘化社会的例子的家庭粮食和营养安全。因此，我们使用 KAP 模型问卷对斯里兰卡边缘地区的 400 名育龄妇女（18-49 岁）进行了一项横断面调查。使用随机抽样方法收集数据。研究结果清楚地表明，所调查领域的育龄妇女营养知识水平较低。大多数女性对接受营养知识持积极态度，但健康饮食实践水平较低。此外，女性的知识、实践和态度很大程度上影响着她们的BMI状况以及家庭粮食安全。采用多元线性回归分析影响因素。 育龄期女性营养知识、态度得分与BMI水平呈极显着正相关，且在地区、年龄、家庭规模、月收入、受教育程度、营养态度、饮食及营养实践方面存在显着差异。 （R ² ：467， p < 0.01）。研究结果表明，KAP很大程度上决定了女性的营养和家庭粮食安全。根据这项研究的结果，有必要加强斯里兰卡边缘地区育龄妇女的营养教育。