Prevalence and predictor stunting, wasting and underweight in Timor Leste children under five years: An analysis of DHS data in 2016

Stunting, wasting, and being underweight are indicators of malnutrition in a country. The high status reflects the poor nutritional and health status of children under five. We analyzed data from the Demographic and Health Survey conducted in Timor Leste from 2009 to 2016 to identify the prevalence and predictor stunting, wasting, and underweight. The variables analyzed were the mother's education, mother's age, mother BMI, mother's height, number of ANC visits, birth weight, sex of a child, sex of head household, type of residence, wealth index, toilet facility, source of drinking water and province. The sample in this study was 3,723 toddlers. Prevalence of stunting (44.4%), underweight (37.5%) and wasting (25.3%). In the bivariate analysis, the variables statistically significantly associated with stunting, underweight, and wasting was mother's education, sex of a child, type of residence, wealth index, and province. Improving the nutritional status of children in Timor Leste requires various nutrition and health interventions

Prevalence and factors associated with undernutrition among exclusively breastfeeding women in Arba Minch Zuria District, Southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional community-based study

BACKGROUND: In developing countries, women are generally vulnerable to undernutrition especially during lactation because of inadequate nutrient intake. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of underweight, associated factors and mean dietary intake of selected nutrients among lactating women in Arba Minch Zuriya districts, Gamo Gofa, Ethiopia. METHODS: Multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select 478 exclusively breastfeeding women. Data was collected by using structured questionnaire, and weight and height measurements. Mean intake of calories, calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin A was assessed by using 24-hour recall method on subsample of 73 subjects and compared against the Ethiopian and African food composition tables. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between various independent variables and maternal underweight. RESULTS: The prevalence of underweight was 17.4%. Maternal underweight significantly associated with short birth to pregnancy interval, high workload burden, household food insecurity, less access to nutrition information and low level of women educational status. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of women suffered from undernutrition and the mean intake of calories, calcium and zinc were below the recommended level for lactating women. Hence, to improve nutritional status of lactating women, strategies should focus on nutrition counseling, improvement in women's access to labour saving technologies and effective household food security interventions

The association between under-nutrition, school performance and perceptual motor functioning in first-grade South African learners: The North-West Child Health Integrated with Learning and Development study

Background: Early childhood is characterised by an immense spurt of growing and learning where under-nutrition can have adverse effects on the neuro-developmental health and school performance of children. A full understanding of the relationship between school performance and motor functioning skills and malnourishment in school beginners is still lacking. Aim: To determine the association between indices of under-nutrition and how it relates to school performance and motor functioning skills of first-grade learners. Setting: North West province (NWP) of South Africa (SA). Method: The baseline data of the stratified, randomised North-West Child Health Integrated with Learning and Development (NW-CHILD) longitudinal study were used. Grade 1 learners (N= 816, 420 boys, 396 girls, mean age 6.78+ years) from four school districts in the NWP of SA took part in the study. Indices of under-nutrition were determined by Z-scores (−2standard deviation [s.d.]) for stunting (height-for-age [HAZ]) and wasting and underweight (Z-score for body mass index) using the 2007 World Health Organization reference sample. The Bruininks­Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Short Form and the Visual Motor Integration fourth edition were used to assess different aspects of motor functioning, while school performance in mathematics, reading and writing was assessed by teachers according to the National South African standards of assessments. Results: Both HAZ and Z-score for weight-for-age correlated significantly with school performance and motor functioning skills (r> 2.0, p< 0.05), while visual perception was moderately associated (r< 0.30) with mathematics in HAZ and Z-score for weight-for-height (WHZ) children. Motor functioning of HAZ and WHZ children was significantly poorer (p<0.05) compared to typical children, while underweight was not associated with any outcome variables.Conclusion: Moderate forms of stunting and wasting influence school performance and motor functioning of school beginners negatively, while an association between visual perceptual abilities and inferior mathematics, reading and writing suggests a close link with inferior cognitive information processing in stunted and wasted children. These barriers should be addressed as poor scholastic success in Grade 1 may influence future school performance and the subsequent well-being of children

Obesity; overweight; and underweight among urban Nigerians

Background: Disease burden from communicable and noncommunicable diseases is a significant health challenge facing many developing nations. Among the noncommunicable diseases; is obesity; which has become a global epidemic associated with urbanization. Objective: The aim was to evaluate the prevalence of weight abnormalities; their pattern of distribution and regional differences among apparently healthy urban dwelling Nigerians. Methods: A cross-sectional community-based descriptive survey was carried out in five urban cities; each from one geo-political zone of Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedures were used to select participants using the World Health Organization STEPS instrument. Ethical approval and consents were duly and respectively obtained from the Ethics Committee in the tertiary centers and participants in each of these cities. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 20 (IBM Corp.; Amonk; NY; released 2011) with P value set at 0.05. Results: A total of 5392 participants were recruited; of which; 54.5 and 45.5 were males and females respectively. Mean (standard deviation) age and body mass index (BMI) were 40.6 (14.3) years and 25.3 (5.1) kg/m 2 . Obesity; overweight; and underweight were found in 17; 31; and 5 of participants respectively. Significantly; while underweight declined with increasing age; overweight; and obesity increased to peak in the middle age brackets. Age of ? 40 years was found to confer about twice the risk of becoming overweight. The prevalence of obesity and mean BMI were significantly higher both among the females and the participants from southern zones. Conclusion: Obesity and overweight are common in our urban dwellers with accompanying regional differences. Attainment of middle age increases the likelihood of urban dwelling Nigerians to become overweight/obese. There is therefore the need to institute measures that will check development of overweight/obesity early enough; while improving the nutritional status of the few who may still be undernourished

Underweight; Overweight and Obesity in Adults Nigerians Living in Rural and Urban Communities of Benue State

Objective: To assess the prevalence of underweight; overweight and obesity among Nigerians aged 18-45 years; living in urban and rural settlements in one state in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Four hundred and thirty-five subjects between 18 and 45 years of age were recruited for height; weight and waist circumference (WC) measurements. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated (weight/height 2; kg/m 2 ); WHO criteria determined BMI and WC categories. Results: Based on BMI; about 2of the study population was underweight; 22was overweight and 4was obese. There were more normal weight persons in rural than in urban settlement. About 40 and 30of females in urban and rural settlement; respectively; were either overweight or obese. Based on WC of the sample population; 10.34had increased risk for metabolic syndrome [action level I (defi ned as WC ?94 cm in men and ?80 cm in women)] and 2.8had substantially increased risk [action level II (defi ned as WC ?102 cm in men and ?88 cm in women)]. At action level II; there was no obese male. Conclusion: This study revealed that underweight; overweight and obesity exist in young adults; but overweight and obesity are more prevalent. Therefore; concerted efforts should be made to control this in young adults for their present well-being and to possibly avoid the risk of disease later in life

Underweight and overweight in primary school children in eThekwini district in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children has been increasing worldwide. South Africa has minimal data on childhood body weight. Objectives: This study determined whether school children in the eThekwini district in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, were underweight or overweight. Method: A survey with quantitative and qualitative components was conducted amongst 120 participants between 10 years and 12 years of age. The participants were randomly selected from six public schools in an urban district of the province. A calibrated Goldline bathroom scale was used to measure body weight and a KDS Freo non-elastic measuring tape was used to measure height. A questionnaire consisting of open and close-ended questions collected demographic and lifestyle information. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from height and weight data. Proportions of obese, overweight and underweight children were calculated and subjected to chi-square tests at the p ≤ 0.05 significance level. All qualitative information was summarised. Results: According to World Health Organization criteria, 66% of the children were underweight, 28% were of normal weight and 5% were overweight. The proportion of underweight children increased with age (64% of children aged between 10 years and 11 years vs 70% for 12-year-olds). Of the underweight children, 41% were female and 51% were Indian. Only one child was obese. BMI was related to dietary patterns and activity levels during and outside school hours. Conclusion: A significant number of primary school children from the six selected public schools in the eThekwini district were underweight. More effort is required to improve the nutritional status of school children in the eThekwini district

Adverse Social; Nutrition and Health Conditions in Rural Districts of Kwazulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape Provinces; South Africa

Objective: This study determined the socio-demographic; nutritional and health status of children and their caregivers in two rural districts in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and one rural district in the Eastern Cape (EC); South Africa. Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Setting: The study population resided in Umkhanyakude (sub-district Jozini) and Zululand (sub-district Pongola) in KZN; and in OR Tambo (sub-district Nyandeni) in the EC province. Subjects: Children 0 to 59 months old (Umkhanyakude n = 398; Zululand n = 303; OR Tambo n = 364) and their caregivers were included.Methods: Structured interviewer-administered questionnaires were conducted and height and weight were measured.Results: Households in OR Tambo had less access to services (tap water 3; toilets 33); compared to Umkhanyakude (tap water 50;toilets 82) and Zululand (tap water 74; toilets 98). Wood was the main energy source used to cook food in all three districts ( 75).Grants were a main source of income (Umkhanyakude and Zululand 61; OR Tambo 55). Many households obtained vegetables from their own garden (Umkhanyakude and Zululand 30; OR Tambo 70). The households that reportedly had enough food available at all times (Umkhanyakude and Zululand 25; OR Tambo 17); were in the minority. The diarrhoea prevalence reported by the caregivers was high (Umkhanyakude 35; Zululand 24; OR Tambo 24). The prevalence of stunting was higher for children older than 12 months and varied between 22 and 26. The prevalence of overweight among children 0 to 23 months exceeded the prevalence of underweight. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among caregivers was high (Umkhanyakude 42; Zululand 60; OR Tambo 56).Conclusion: Concerted efforts are needed to address the adverse social; nutrition and health conditions in these districts

Risk Factors of Poor Anthropometric Status in Children Under Five Years of Age Living In Rural Districts of the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal Provinces; South Africa

Objectives: Factors associated with children's anthropometric status were determined. Design: Secondary analysis was done using data from a cross-sectional survey including children under five years of age (n = 2 485) and their mothers in rural districts of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces; South Africa. Methods: Data generated by questionnaire and anthropometric indices were used to construct a logistic regression model; taking into account hierarchical relationships of risk factors to determine the odds of a child being stunted; underweight or overweight. Statistical significance was set at p 0.05. Results: Factors associated with stunting were child of male gender (odds ratio (OR)

Risk Factors of Poor Anthropometric Status in Children Under Five Years of Age Living In Rural Districts of the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal Provinces; South Africa

Objectives: Factors associated with children's anthropometric status were determined. Design: Secondary analysis was done using data from a cross-sectional survey including children under five years of age (n = 2 485) and their mothers in rural districts of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces; South Africa. Methods: Data generated by questionnaire and anthropometric indices were used to construct a logistic regression model; taking into account hierarchical relationships of risk factors to determine the odds of a child being stunted; underweight or overweight. Statistical significance was set at p 0.05. Results: Factors associated with stunting were child of male gender (odds ratio (OR)

Effect of Physical Activity on Body Water in Sedentary Young Underweight and Obese Women

Background: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of a walking exercise on body water among sedentary obese and thin women. Methods: Forty young untrained girls between the age of 20 and 25 years (obese; BMI30: N=20 and thin; BMI

Malnutrition in Support Groups of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA): a Case in Botswana

Objectives: The objectives of this study were 1) to determine the proportion of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) at risk of developing malnutrition; 2) to determine the prevalence of malnutrition (BMI 18.5 kg/m2); and 3) to describe the dietary intake and other nutrition parameters of PLWHA with membership in support groups. Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting: Six support groups in Gaborone and neighbouring locations. Subjects: Consenting; free-living HIV-positive adults 20 to 50 years of age with membership in support groups for PLWHA. Outcome measures: The subjects' risk of developing malnutrition was established using a modified subjective global assessment (SGA) screening tool. Subjects with an SGA score (n = 69) were found to be at high risk of developing malnutrition (SGA score = 4) and 28.5(n = 41) were malnourished (BMI 18.5 kg/m2). In the sample with SGA scores (n = 35) presented with a BMI 18.5 kg/ m2. These two groups also reported more unintentional weight loss; gastrointestinal symptoms; and other conditions commonly associated with a high risk of developing malnutrition. PLWHA with membership in support groups also had low educational attainment and high unemployment rates. A total of 47of subjects with an SGA score = 4 needed food assistance. Conclusions: Almost 50of PLWHA with membership in support groups for PLWHA are at risk of developing malnutrition; while about 30have a BMI 18.5kg/m2. Nutrition screening can also help to identify those PLWHA with a BMI 18.5 kg/m2 who are still at high risk of developing malnutrition. Timely nutrition interventions can therefore be instituted in order to prevent deterioration in nutritional status

Nutritional Status of Under-Five Children in Libya : a National Population-Based Survey

Aim: To describe the nutritional status of children under-five years of age in Libya. Population and methods: A secondary analysis of data of 5348 children taken from a national representative; two-stage; cluster-sample survey that was performed in 1995. Results: Prevalence rates of underweight; wasting; stunting; and overweight were determined using standard definitions in reference to newly established WHO growth charts. The study revealed that 4.3of children were underweight; 3.7wasted; 20.7stunted; and 16.2overweight. Seventy percent of children had normal weight. Undernutrition was more likely to be found in males; in rural areas; and in under- privileged groups. Overweight was more likely found in urban; privileged groups. Wasting was more common in arid regions; stunting was more common in mountainous regions of Al- Akhdar; Al-Gharbi; and in Sirt. Al-Akhdar had the highest prevalence of overweight. Conclusion: The country had a low prevalence of underweight and wasting; moderate prevalence of stunting; and high prevalence of overweight. The country is in the early stages of transition with evidence of dual-burden in some regions. Similar surveys are needed to verify secular trends of these nutritional problems; particularly overweight

Nutritional Status of Under-five Children in Libya: a National Population-based Survey

Aim: To describe the nutritional status of children under-five years of age in Libya. Population and methods: A secondary analysis of data of 5348 children taken from a national representative; two-stage; cluster-sample survey that was performed in 1995. Results: Prevalence rates of underweight; wasting; stunting; and overweight were determined using standard definitions in reference to newly established WHO growth charts. The study revealed that 4.3of children were underweight; 3.7wasted; 20.7stunted; and 16.2overweight. Seventy percent of children had normal weight. Undernutrition was more likely to be found in males; in rural areas; and in underprivileged groups. Overweight was more likely found in urban; privileged groups. Wasting was more common in arid regions; stunting was more common in mountainous regions of Al-Akhdar; Al-Gharbi; and in Sirt. Al-Akhdar had the highest prevalence of overweight.Conclusion: The country had a low prevalence of underweight and wasting; moderate prevalence of stunting; and high prevalence of overweight. The country is in the early stages of transition with evidence of dual-burden in some regions. Similar surveys are needed to verify secular trends of these nutritional problems; particularly overweight