Objectives: This study was carried out to determine the nutritional status of primary
school children aged 6 to 11 years in Sepang District and to compare the results with a
similar study carried out in 1999. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in
Sepang District using stratified random cluster sampling technique. A pre-tested, structured
questionnaire was used to collect the data. Weight was recorded using a digital bathroom
scale TANITA model HD-309 and height was measured by using a SECA Body meter
Model 208. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the
square of height in meters. Classifications of the nutritional status of respondents was
based on WHO classification 1983 and 1995. Data were analysed using SPSS. Results:
The overall mean BMI for the 1,910 respondents was 16.8 (95% CI= 16.67 - 16.99;
SE=0.08). The median BMI was 15 .7 ranging from 9.51 to 36.75 kg/m2. The majority
(84.4%) had normal weight-for-age status, 7.6% respondents had weight-for-age status
below -2 SD of the NCHS-WHO median and 8.0% had weight-for-age status above +2 SD
of the NCHS-WHO median. The prevalence of underweight and overweight was significantly
higher in the males compared to the females (p< 0.05). There was a significant association
between underweight and ethnicity (p< 0.05). The majority (90.3%) had normal heightfor-
age status, 8.8% had height-for-age below - 2 SD of the NCHS-WHO standard median
and 0.9% had height-for-age above 2 SD from the NCHS median. The prevalence of
stunting was significantly higher in the male (10.3%) as compared to 7.4% in the females
(X2 = 5.11, P = 0.02). The majority (81.4%) of the respondents were within the normal
weight-for-height, 3.4% were wasted (weight-for-height was below - 2 SD of the NCHSWHO
median) and 15.2% of the respondents were obese (weight-for-height that is more
than +2 SD of the NCHS-WHO median). The prevalence of wasting was higher in the
females (4.1 %) compared to males (2.8%). The prevalence of obesity was slightly higher
in the males (15.4%) compared to females (14.9%). Conclusion: The overall nutritional
status of primary schools children is good. However, there still exists pockets of population
in Sepang where chronic and acute forms of undernutrition persist in these children.
This is a cross»sectional study to determine the nutritional status of Malay children aged 6 to 10 years in Kampongknderam Hilir. A cross sectional study design was used.All households were included in the study. All the 218 Malaysian children aged 6 to 10 years in Kamponglenderam Hilir were included in the study. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect the data.
Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10. The minority of the chihlren were within normal range for weight·for-age, normal height for age status and weight for height status. However in small proportion of children, there was a persistence of protein·energy malnutrition problems. Overall 11% were underweight. There was no significant difference in the prevalence ofunderweight between males and females. The prevalence of overweight and stunting was 5 .3% and 11 .5%. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of sturtting in male compared to females. Although stunting was prevalent in all age groups (4.4% to 19.6%) a significant higher prevalence was observed in the age group 9 - 9.9 years compared to other age groups (p< 0.05). Wasting was present in 7.6% of the respondents. The 6 - 6.9 years age group had the highest wasting prevalence compared to other age groups. The prevalence of wasting was significantly higher in males. ln conclusion the overall nutritional status of children aged 6 to 10 years old in Kampong]enderam Hilir was satnfactory. However, there was still malnutrition in a small proportion of chihlren. Underweight, stunting and overweight were seen in all age groups. As such there is a need to identify these chiMren and improve their nutritional status.