A cross-sectional study of socio-economic and environmental factors affecting nutritional status of children below seven years in three iban longhouses : Rumah Sengalang, Rumah Raman and Rumah Terai in Debak, Betong division from June to July 2002

Sugathathissa, a/l Chandradasa and Chai, Chiun Kian and Koay, Adrian Choon Aun and Lee, Ming Yen and Ani Darwina, Abd. Halim and Wong, Jackson Sonn Tag and Irene, Michael Mijel and Suhaimi, Selamat and Pauline, ak Robert Ero and Eunice Melissa, ak Joseph and Roger Isop, ak Laping (2002) A cross-sectional study of socio-economic and environmental factors affecting nutritional status of children below seven years in three iban longhouses : Rumah Sengalang, Rumah Raman and Rumah Terai in Debak, Betong division from June to July 2002. [Final Year Project Report] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Malnutrition is implicated in more than half of all child deaths (below seven) worldwide. Most of the malnourished children are from developing countries and two thirds of those are living in South East Asia. A cross-sectional study was carried out on the nutritional status of children under seven years old and the possible aetiological factors such as socioeconomic characteristics, cultural practices, immunization, morbidity and feeding patterns. The nutritional status of 28 male and 32 female children under seven years old in from three longhouses in Debak was assessed. The length/height and body weight of the children were recorded and the mothers were interviewed using questionnaires. The results show that 25% of the children were stunted, 10% were wasted and 30% were underweight. There were no significant associations between the various anthropometric indicators with factors such as gender, mothers' educational level and income per capita. The only exception of statistical significance is between stunting and the mothers' educational level. The overall knowledge of the respondents on infant and toddler feeding is fair and 53% were found to have adequate knowledge. The only factor found to affect the adequacy of this knowledge is the mothers' educational level.

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