Nutritional study of the 1-4 year old population of the Lower Jimi Valley, Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.
- Author:
Richard Keeble
;
Jessica Keeble
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Valley;
Lower;
Malnutrition;
Papua New Guinea;
Western Herbs and Botanicals
- From:
Papua and New Guinea medical journal
2006;49(3-4):156-61
- CountryPapua New Guinea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Malnutrition is a significant problem in parts of Papua New Guinea, including the Lower Jimi Valley. There is evidence of specific nutritional deficiencies, such as endemic cretinism, but this study focused on protein-energy malnutrition. It found that, in the 1-4 year old population of three remote villages in the Jimi, only 26% were nutritionally normal, 65% were stunted, 7% were wasted and 2% were stunted and wasted. With respect to weight for age, 16% were 80-100% weight for age, 77% were 60-80% and 7% were < 60%. These figures are considerably higher than those of the National Nutrition Survey of 1982-1983; although the Survey data originated from the entire Jimi District rather than only the villages in this study, these findings suggest that malnutrition is a significant and worsening problem in the Lower Jimi Valley.
