Prema, LSuja P, ThomasKAU2019-09-182019-09-181989http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810128616PGA study of the effect of birth order and spacing on the nutritional status of mother and child was conducted among the agricultural labourers working in the instructional farm, vellayani and also among other agricultural labourers working near the Vellayani Campus. Living conditions of the families with less members were far better when compared to large families. As the family size increased the expenditure on various items decreased. There was an inverse relationship between education of the mother and number of deliveries. With increased educational status of parents the rate of adoption of family planning measure was also found to be increased. Regarding the mortality rates of children with respect to birth order and birth spacing the results showed that infant and neonatal mortality, still births and abortions were more in children with a birth interval below one year and these were more in first birth order children. Incidence of infectious diseases like measles, respiratory disease, diarrhoea, dysentery, cough, chicken pox, jaundice etc. were found to be more among closely spaced children. Rice, fish, tapioca and coconut were the main items in their daily diet and they purchased these food articles daily since they were daily wage earners. No special foods were given to physiologically vulnerable groups. Majority of the mothers breast fed for a period of 1 to 2 years and early weaning was observed due to subsequent pregnancy. Prolonged breast feeding was observed in children with more birth spacing. All types of food groups were included in the daily diets of mothers and children of small families but only in insufficient quantities . Nutrient consumption was also higher in the members of small families when compared to large sized families. There was a positive correlation between birth spacing and nutritional status of children and a negative correlation between nutritional status and birth order. In the case of mothers, as the birth spacing increased body weight was also found to increase significantly. The body weight was found to be decreasing in mothers with more number of deliveries. Deficiency symptoms were found to be more in mothers with closely spaced children and with more member of deliveries. Similarly the manifestation of deficiency symptoms were more among closely spaced children and also among high birth order children. Prevalence of anaemia in mothers and children was also high when birth interval decreased and also when the number of deliveries of the mothers and birth order of the children increased.ennullThesis