Family Physician, 1993;5(2):26-30.

Abstract

Analysis of the nutritional status and its related factors of three different geographic areas was conducted. The areas were Kampong Sungai Gulang-Gulang, a traditional village in Kuala Selangor, vegetable farming area in Kuala Terla, Cameron Highland and housing flats in Kuala Lumpur. Assessment of nutritional status was done using anthropometric, clinical, biochemical, dietary and stool examination. The results show that 13% of the children in traditional village were stunted, 8% were wasted and 17% were underweight. In vegetable farming area the prevalence were 16.5%, 10.2% and 20.2% respectively. The prevalence of anaemia among toddler was 81.0% in traditional village, 77.2% in vegetable farming area and 55.3% in urban flats. Anaemia in the three areas was strongly associated with inadequate intake of iron.