The type of fruit consumed usually has not varied with the gender. But with age, the types of fruits consumed have varied. The consumption of some fruits like pineapple, papaya, mango, wood apple is high in the age group of 65-70 compared to other age groups. Pineapple consumption of age 65-70 is higher (58.8%) compared to other age groups (25.4%-30.6%). The consumption of some fruits has slightly varied with the district as well. In the Kurunegala district pineapple (55.6%), wood apple (66.7%), and Bael fruit (55.6%) consumption stands out significantly higher percentage compared to other districts. When considering the monthly income of the respondents, for certain fruits like apple, and pineapple, consumption has increased with the increase in monthly income. The high price level of these fruits can be the reason for that variation.
Fruit consumption with respect to Sociodemographic factors
Fruit | Gender | |||
Male | Female | |||
Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | |
Apple | 19 | 16.4% | 13 | 9.7% |
Banana | 107 | 92.2% | 129 | 96.3% |
Orange | 25 | 21.6% | 23 | 17.2% |
Papaya | 95 | 81.9% | 106 | 79.1% |
Mango | 80 | 69.0% | 95 | 70.9% |
Bael fruit | 24 | 20.7% | 30 | 22.4% |
Wood apple | 35 | 30.2% | 43 | 32.1% |
Pineapple | 34 | 29.3% | 38 | 28.4% |
Avocado | 1 | 0.9% | 1 | 0.7% |
Watermelon | 1 | 0.9% | 1 | 0.7% |
Guava | 2 | 1.7% | 2 | 1.5% |
Nelli | 1 | 0.9% | 1 | 0.7% |
Starfruit | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.7% |
Passion fruit | 1 | 0.9% | 0 | 0.0% |
Soursop | 1 | 0.9% | 0 | 0.0% |
Veralu | 1 | 0.9% | 0 | 0.0% |
Lovi | 1 | 0.9% | 0 | 0.0% |
Ambarella | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.7% |
Uguressa | 1 | 0.9% | 0 | 0.0% |
Jackfruit | 1 | 0.9% | 0 | 0.0% |
Rambutan | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.7% |
No fruit consumption | 4 | 3.4% | 1 | 0.7% |
Fruit | Age | |||||||
| 50-54 years | 55-59 years | 60-64 years | 65-70 years | ||||
| Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage |
Apple | 9 | 12.9% | 10 | 8.8% | 10 | 20.4% | 3 | 17.6% |
Banana | 67 | 95.7% | 106 | 93.0% | 47 | 95.9% | 16 | 94.1% |
Orange | 14 | 20.0% | 19 | 16.7% | 11 | 22.4% | 4 | 23.5% |
Papaya | 53 | 75.7% | 94 | 82.5% | 39 | 79.6% | 15 | 88.2% |
Mango | 49 | 70.0% | 80 | 70.2% | 33 | 67.3% | 13 | 76.5% |
Bael fruit | 16 | 22.9% | 19 | 16.7% | 14 | 28.6% | 5 | 29.4% |
Wood apple | 22 | 31.4% | 35 | 30.7% | 15 | 30.6% | 6 | 35.3% |
Pineapple | 18 | 25.7% | 29 | 25.4% | 15 | 30.6% | 10 | 58.8% |
Avocado | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.9% | 1 | 2.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Watermelon | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 5.9% |
Guava | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.9% | 2 | 4.1% | 1 | 5.9% |
Nelli | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 5.9% |
Starfruit | 1 | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Passion fruit | 1 | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Soursop | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Veralu | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 5.9% |
Lovi | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 5.9% |
Ambarella | 1 | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Uguressa | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 5.9% |
Jackfruit | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Rambutan | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
No fruit consumption | 2 | 2.9% | 3 | 2.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Fruit | District | |||||||||
| Colombo | Kandy | Gampaha | Kurunegala | Kaluthara | |||||
Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | |
Apple | 10 | 17.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 5.6% | 3 | 33.3% | 2 | 9.1% |
Banana | 55 | 96.5% | 6 | 100.0% | 35 | 97.2% | 8 | 88.9% | 22 | 100.0% |
Orange | 14 | 24.6% | 1 | 16.7% | 4 | 11.1% | 3 | 33.3% | 4 | 18.2% |
Papaya | 43 | 75.4% | 5 | 83.3% | 33 | 91.7% | 7 | 77.8% | 22 | 100.0% |
Mango | 41 | 71.9% | 5 | 83.3% | 27 | 75.0% | 5 | 55.6% | 17 | 77.3% |
Bael fruit | 12 | 21.1% | 2 | 33.3% | 8 | 22.2% | 5 | 55.6% | 2 | 9.1% |
Wood apple | 20 | 35.1% | 1 | 16.7% | 7 | 19.4% | 6 | 66.7% | 4 | 18.2% |
Pineapple | 13 | 22.8% | 2 | 33.3% | 7 | 19.4% | 5 | 55.6% | 3 | 13.6% |
Avocado | 1 | 1.8% | 1 | 16.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Watermelon | 1 | 1.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Guava | 1 | 1.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Nelli | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Starfruit | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Passion fruit | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 2.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Soursop | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Veralu | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Lovi | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Ambarella | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 2.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Uguressa | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Jackfruit | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Rambutan | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
No fruit consumption | 2 | 3.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 11.1% | 0 | 0.0% |
Fruit | District | |||||||||
| Rathnapura | Galle | Matara | Kegalle | Other | |||||
| Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage |
Apple | 2 | 12.5% | 1 | 7.7% | 1 | 6.7% | 9 | 13.0% | 2 | 28.6% |
Banana | 13 | 81.3% | 13 | 100.0% | 15 | 100.0% | 64 | 92.8% | 5 | 71.4% |
Orange | 3 | 18.8% | 3 | 23.1% | 1 | 6.7% | 12 | 17.4% | 3 | 42.9% |
Papaya | 10 | 62.5% | 11 | 84.6% | 14 | 93.3% | 52 | 75.4% | 4 | 57.1% |
Mango | 10 | 62.5% | 7 | 53.8% | 9 | 60.0% | 50 | 72.5% | 4 | 57.1% |
Bael fruit | 4 | 25.0% | 3 | 23.1% | 6 | 40.0% | 11 | 15.9% | 1 | 14.3% |
Wood apple | 4 | 25.0% | 4 | 30.8% | 8 | 53.3% | 22 | 31.9% | 2 | 28.6% |
Pineapple | 6 | 37.5% | 5 | 38.5% | 6 | 40.0% | 25 | 36.2% | 0 | 0.0% |
Avocado | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Watermelon | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0% |
Guava | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 3 | 4.3% | 0 | 0.0% |
Nelli | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 2.9% | 0 | 0.0% |
Starfruit | 1 | 6.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Passion fruit | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Soursop | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 6.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Veralu | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0% |
Lovi | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0% |
Ambarella | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Uguressa | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0% |
Jackfruit | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 6.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Rambutan | 1 | 6.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
No fruit consumption | 1 | 6.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0% |
Fruit | Monthly income level | |||||||
| Less than 20,000 LKR | 20,000-50,000 LKR | 50,000-100,000 LKR | More than 100,000 LKR | ||||
| Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage |
Apple | 1 | 8.3% | 4 | 9.5% | 18 | 14.8% | 9 | 12.2% |
Banana | 12 | 100.0% | 39 | 92.9% | 116 | 95.1% | 69 | 93.2% |
Orange | 2 | 16.7% | 5 | 11.9% | 27 | 22.1% | 14 | 18.9% |
Papaya | 8 | 66.7% | 31 | 73.8% | 103 | 84.4% | 59 | 79.7% |
Mango | 8 | 66.7% | 25 | 59.5% | 93 | 76.2% | 49 | 66.2% |
Bael fruit | 4 | 33.3% | 7 | 16.7% | 31 | 25.4% | 12 | 16.2% |
Wood apple | 4 | 33.3% | 8 | 19.0% | 46 | 37.7% | 20 | 27.0% |
Pineapple | 3 | 25.0% | 14 | 33.3% | 42 | 34.4% | 13 | 17.6% |
Avocado | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.8% | 1 | 1.4% |
Watermelon | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 2.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.4% |
Guava | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 2.4% | 1 | 0.8% | 2 | 2.7% |
Nelli | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 4.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Starfruit | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.4% |
Passion fruit | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.4% |
Soursop | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.4% |
Veralu | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 2.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Lovi | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 2.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Ambarella | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.8% | 0 | 0.0% |
Uguressa | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 2.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Jackfruit | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.4% |
Rambutan | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.8% | 0 | 0.0% |
No fruit consumption | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 4.8% | 1 | 0.8% | 2 | 2.7% |
Fruit | Education level | |||||||||
| Primary Education | Secondary Education | Diploma/Certificate | Bachelor’s Degree | Postgraduate Degree | |||||
| Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage |
Apple | 1 | 14.3% | 13 | 16.0% | 6 | 13.6% | 7 | 13.7% | 5 | 7.5% |
Banana | 7 | 100.0% | 76 | 93.8% | 43 | 97.7% | 45 | 88.2% | 65 | 97.0% |
Orange | 3 | 42.9% | 16 | 19.8% | 7 | 15.9% | 12 | 23.5% | 10 | 14.9% |
Papaya | 4 | 57.1% | 67 | 82.7% | 36 | 81.8% | 41 | 80.4% | 53 | 79.1% |
Mango | 6 | 85.7% | 55 | 67.9% | 27 | 61.4% | 37 | 72.5% | 50 | 74.6% |
Bael fruit | 2 | 28.6% | 21 | 25.9% | 11 | 25.0% | 9 | 17.6% | 11 | 16.4% |
Wood apple | 3 | 42.9% | 23 | 28.4% | 15 | 34.1% | 15 | 29.4% | 22 | 32.8% |
Pineapple | 2 | 28.6% | 24 | 29.6% | 15 | 34.1% | 13 | 25.5% | 18 | 26.9% |
Avocado | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.5% |
Watermelon | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 2.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.5% |
Guava | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 2.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 3 | 4.5% |
Nelli | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 2.3% | 1 | 2.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Starfruit | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.5% |
Passion fruit | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.5% |
Soursop | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 2.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Veralu | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 2.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Lovi | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 2.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Ambarella | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.5% |
Uguressa | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 2.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Jackfruit | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 2.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Rambutan | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
No fruit consumption | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 2.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 3.9% | 1 | 1.5% |
In most of the districts, people have 3-4 times a week fruit intake but Galle and Matara districts have lower frequency than that. Among individuals who have more than 50,000 LKR monthly income, majority of individuals consume fruits 3-4 times a week. Among individuals who have less than 50,000 LKR monthly income, majority of individuals consume fruits 1-2 times a week. Among people who have low education level, majority of the respondents consume fruits 1-2 times a week. Among people who have completed their education up to higher education level, majority of the people consume fruits 3-4 times a week. Individuals who have completed higher education often exhibit greater awareness of the health benefits associated with fruit consumption compared to those with lower levels of education. Additionally, individuals with higher education levels may also have higher incomes, enabling them to afford fruits more than those with lower incomes. So, these two reasons might be the reasons for this variation.
Variable | Less than once a week | 1-2 times a week | 3-4 times a week | 5-6 times a week | 7 or more times a week |
Gender |
|
|
|
|
|
Male | 16 (13.8) | 25 (21.6) | 45 (38.8) | 18 (15.5) | 12 (10.3) |
Female | 16 (11.9) | 36 (26.9) | 46 (34.3) | 24 (17.9) | 12 (9.0) |
Age |
|
|
|
|
|
50-54 years | 8 (11.4) | 15 (21.4) | 32 (45.7) | 8 (11.4) | 7 (10.0) |
55-59 years | 13 (11.4) | 26 (22.8) | 41 (36.0) | 23 (20.2) | 11 (9.6) |
60-64 years | 9 (18.4) | 17 (34.7) | 11 (22.4) | 9 (18.4) | 3 (6.1) |
65-70 years | 2 (11.8) | 3 (17.6) | 7 (41.2) | 2 (11.8) | 3 (17.6) |
District |
|
|
|
|
|
Colombo | 11 (19.3) | 10 (17.5) | 19 (33.3) | 9 (15.8) | 8 (14.0) |
Kandy | 0 (0.0) | 1 (16.7) | 4 (66.7) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (16.7) |
Gampaha | 0 (0.0) | 13 (36.1) | 13 (36.1) | 5 (13.9) | 5 (13.9) |
Kurunegala | 3 (33.3) | 2 (22.2) | 2 (22.2) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (22.2) |
Kaluthara | 5 (22.7) | 4 (18.2) | 8 (36.4) | 5 (22.7) | 0 (0.0) |
Rathnapura | 2 (12.5) | 3 (18.8) | 4 (25.0) | 7 (43.8) | 0 (0.0) |
Galle | 1 (7.7) | 8 (61.5) | 4 (30.8) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Matara | 5 (33.3) | 4 (26.7) | 4 (26.7) | 1 (6.7) | 1 (6.7) |
Kegalle | 5 (7.2) | 16 (23.2) | 31 (44.9) | 11 (15.9) | 6 (8.7) |
Other | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (28.6) | 4 (57.1) | 1 (14.3) |
Monthly income level |
|
|
|
|
|
Less than 20,000 LKR | 2 (16.7) | 7 (58.3) | 1 (8.3) | 1 (8.3) | 1 (8.3) |
20,000-50,000 LKR | 8 (19.0) | 15 (35.7) | 14 (33.3) | 3 (7.1) | 2 (4.8) |
50,000-100,000 LKR | 15 (12.3) | 27 (22.1) | 48 (39.3) | 19 (15.6) | 13 (10.7) |
More than 100,000 LKR | 7 (9.5) | 12 (16.2) | 28 (37.8) | 19 (25.7) | 8 (10.8) |
Education level |
|
|
|
|
|
Primary Education | 1 (14.3) | 3 (42.9) | 2 (28.6) | 1 (14.3) | 0 (0.0) |
Secondary Education | 18 (22.2) | 31 (38.3) | 18 (22.2) | 9 (11.1) | 5 (6.2) |
Diploma/Certificate | 4 (9.1) | 10 (22.7) | 21 (47.7) | 8 (18.2) | 1 (2.3) |
Bachelor’s Degree | 5 (9.8) | 11 (21.6) | 22 (43.1) | 8 (15.7) | 5 (9.8) |
Postgraduate Degree | 4 (6.0) | 6 (9.0) | 28 (41.8) | 16 (23.9) | 13 (19.4) |