Nutritional Status of Malaysian Primary School Children Aged 8-10 Years: Findings from the 2008 National IDD Survey
- Author:
Ahmad Ali Zainuddin
;
Rusidah Selamat
;
Azli Baharudin
;
Suhaila Abdul Ghaffar
;
Norsyamline Che Abdul Rahim
;
Tahir Aris
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Obesity, overweight, stunted, thinness, underweight
- From:
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition
2013;19(2):149-161
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: Child malnutrition continues to be a major public health problem
in developing countries. This study aims to determine the current nutritional
status of Malaysian school children using the anthropometric indicators of weight
for age (WAZ), height for age (HAZ), and body mass index for age (BAZ).
Methods: A nationwide school-based survey was undertaken in all Malaysian
states and territories, which included 18,078 children aged 8-10 years attending
445 primary schools. The software WHO AnthroPlus was used to calculate zscores
for the nutritional status (WAZ, HAZ and BAZ) of the target population
relative to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2007 reference. Results: The
national prevalence of underweight among school children was 13.6% and in
rural areas, this rate was nearly double that of urban areas. The national prevalence
rate for stunting was 10.9%, double among rural school children compared to
their urban counterparts. As for thinness, the national prevalence was 6.5%.
Using the WAZ indicator, we found that the national prevalence of overweight
children was 7.6%. Additionally, we found that urban areas showed a higher
prevalence of overweight children (8.8%) than rural areas (5.9%). Conclusion:
The findings of this study indicate that Malaysian school children face the burden
of malnutrition, suffering from both undernourishment and overweight.
Malaysia must make a concerted effort to overcome the problems of malnutrition
among children.
- Full text:W020150716514816249883.pdf
