Nutritional status and complementary feeding among Penan infants and young children in rural Sarawak Malaysia

Bong M. W., . and Norimah A Karim, . and Ismail Mohd Noor, . Nutritional status and complementary feeding among Penan infants and young children in rural Sarawak Malaysia. pp. 539-550. ISSN 1394-035X

Introduction : The Penan people are largely settled in rural and remote areas of Sarawak with high rates of undernutrition among the children. The study aimed to determine the nutritional status and infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices of Penan children. Methods: Subjects consisted of 121 children aged between 0-23 months from 15 Penan longhouses in Belaga district. Malnutrition was assessed using anthropometric measurements of children and categorised according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Growth Standards (2006). Feeding practices were assessed using questionnaires based on WHO IYCF Indicators (2008). Results : The prevalence of underweight was 29.8; stunting 43.0 and wasting 5.8. Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months was 44.4. About 86 of infants aged 6-8 months were already given solid semi-solid and soft foods. The proportion of children aged 6-23 months achieving minimum dietary diversity (MDD) was 76.6 while minimum meal frequency (MMF) was 83.0 (breastfed and non-breastfed). Among the children who achieved MDD 64.9 of their meals were derived from 4-5 food groups. More than half (55.3) of all subjects (breastfed and non-breastfed) received minimum acceptable diet (MAD). Achievement of iron-rich foods (IRF) indicator was 77.7. There was no significant association between the IYCF indicators of MDD MMF and MAD and underweight stunting and wasting. Conclusion : A high prevalence of poor nutritional status was recorded among the Penan children. While the IYCF indicators apparently showed satisfactory complementary feeding practices future studies should assess quantitatively the intake of complementary food among Penan infants and young children.

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Abstract

Introduction : The Penan people are largely settled in rural and remote areas of Sarawak with high rates of undernutrition among the children. The study aimed to determine the nutritional status and infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices of Penan children. Methods: Subjects consisted of 121 children aged between 0-23 months from 15 Penan longhouses in Belaga district. Malnutrition was assessed using anthropometric measurements of children and categorised according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Growth Standards (2006). Feeding practices were assessed using questionnaires based on WHO IYCF Indicators (2008). Results : The prevalence of underweight was 29.8; stunting 43.0 and wasting 5.8. Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months was 44.4. About 86 of infants aged 6-8 months were already given solid semi-solid and soft foods. The proportion of children aged 6-23 months achieving minimum dietary diversity (MDD) was 76.6 while minimum meal frequency (MMF) was 83.0 (breastfed and non-breastfed). Among the children who achieved MDD 64.9 of their meals were derived from 4-5 food groups. More than half (55.3) of all subjects (breastfed and non-breastfed) received minimum acceptable diet (MAD). Achievement of iron-rich foods (IRF) indicator was 77.7. There was no significant association between the IYCF indicators of MDD MMF and MAD and underweight stunting and wasting. Conclusion : A high prevalence of poor nutritional status was recorded among the Penan children. While the IYCF indicators apparently showed satisfactory complementary feeding practices future studies should assess quantitatively the intake of complementary food among Penan infants and young children.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Nutritional status
AGROVOC Term:	Child feeding
AGROVOC Term:	Children
AGROVOC Term:	Infants
AGROVOC Term:	Infant feeding
AGROVOC Term:	Rural areas
AGROVOC Term:	Rural communities
AGROVOC Term:	Ethnic groups
AGROVOC Term:	Anthropometry
AGROVOC Term:	Body measurements
Depositing User:	Mr. AFANDI ABDUL MALEK
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 00:54
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/8031

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