Sitting Anthropometrics Groupings Of School Children From Grades 1 To 5

ABSTRACT

This study on anthropometrics of Primary School children from grade 1 to 5 in Peninsular Malaysia involves 2310 students aged seven to eleven years old. The objectives were to analyze the differentiation of anthropometrics between children of grades 1 to 5 and grouping them to suitable levels in which they are appropriate to propose chair dimensions. A multi-stage sampling method was used, and rural and urban areas were also included in providing anthropometric database that represents the whole Peninsular Malaysia population. There were six dimensions measured in this study, which are sitting shoulder, sitting subscapular height, sitting elbow height, hip width, buttock-popliteal length and popliteal height. All the measurements were chosen to represent dimensions needed to construct ergonomic school chair. From the results, ANOVA showed p-values of <0.01 for all body dimensions when compared to grades 1 to 5. Column charts were also illustrated, where grade 1 and 2 had similar anthropometrics. Therefore, it can be concluded that Level 1 chairs should made to accommodate grades 1 and 2, and Level 2 chairs should cater children of grades 3, 4 and 5.