Current prevalence and predictors of protein-energy malnutrition among school children in rural Peninsular Malaysia

Al-Mekhlafi, M.S. and Surin, J. and Atiya, A.S. and Ariffin, W.A. and Mahdy, A.K. and Abdullah, H.C. (2008) Current prevalence and predictors of protein-energy malnutrition among school children in rural Peninsular Malaysia. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, 39 (5). pp. 922-931. ISSN 0125-1562,

[img]
Preview
 PDF
Current_prevalence_and_predictors_of_protein_energy_malnutrition_among_school_children_in_rural_Peninsular_Malaysia.pdf - Published Version
Download (50kB)

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the current prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) among Orang Asli schoolchildren and to investigate the potential predictors of malnutrition. A total of 241 (120 males and 121 females) Orang Asli schoolchildren age 7-12 years living in remote areas of Pos Betau, Pahang participated voluntarily in this study. Anthropometric and socioeconomic data were collected and the children were screened for intestinal parasitic infections. The overall prevalences of mild and significant underweight conditions were 52.3 and 37.3, respectively, and the prevalences of mild stunting and wasting were 43.6 and 43.1, respectively, while the prevalences of significant stunting and wasting were 43.6 and 5.6, respectively. There was a significant association between gender (male) and malnutrition (p = 0.029). The results also showed a higher prevalence of stunting among children age < or = 10 years than in older children (p = 0.001). Other independent variables, including socioeconomic status and intestinal parasitic infections, had no significant associations with malnutrition indices. PEM is prevalent among schoolchildren in rural Malaysia and therefore of public health concern since PEM diminishes immune function and impairs cognitive function and educational performance. School-based programs of prevention through health education and interventions should be considered as an essential part of measures to improve the quality of life of schoolchildren in rural Malaysia.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Additional Information: Correspondence: Professor Johari Surin, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: 006-03-7967 4747; Fax: 006-03-7976 4754 E-mail: halmekhlafi@yahoo.com
Uncontrolled Keywords: Parasitology
Subjects: R Medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine
Depositing User: jsurin johari surin
Date Deposited: 21 Jun 2012 00:54
Last Modified: 19 Oct 2018 08:29
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/3363

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
UM Research Repository is powered by EPrints 3 which is developed by the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. More information and software credits.