Nutritional status in a rural estate community
Kandiah, N.; Boo, L.J.
Medical Journal of Malaysia 31(4): 270-276
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-5283 PMID: 412038 Document Number: 121254
Survey from December 1975 to June 1976 was of an Indian estate community in Selangor. Of the population of over 1000, 94% were Indian and 60% were rubber tappers, with income per person on average M$32 a month and average family of 5 children; 15.5% of the population were under 7 years old and 34% were 7 to 18 years old. Altogether 518 had a clinical examination and the children among them were weighed and measured. Intake and eating habits were found by questionnaire. Of the 41 children up to 5 years old 20% were malnourished, under 70% of the Harvard Standard, and 1 was under 60% according to her bodyweight for age although without clinical marasmus. Among 137 boys and 109 girls aged 7 to 18 years, 13.9 and 11% weighed 60% of the lower standard. Standards were 50th percentile in studies by Nelson, Vaughan and McKay (Textbook of Pediatrics, ed. 9, 1969, Philadelphia, USA; Saunders). There were signs of vitamin A deficiency in 49% of 251 schoolchildren, 4.6% of 65 children under 5 years old and 17.8% of 202 adults. For those giving blood, about a third of children and half the adults who were examined, 27% of schoolchildren, 32% of younger children, 4.2% of men and 9.4% of women had serum vitamin A under 20 mu g/100 ml. Only 2 children had signs that may have indicated early thiamin deficiency, but those having a TPP effect , the highest incidence of any group, possibly contributing to their anaemia. Incidence of infestation was high in anaemic persons for whom the faeces were examined. Housing and sanitation were poor. Almost no dairy produce, fish or liver was eaten, being expensive, and dhal was preferred to leafy vegetables. Intake of fruit was small and seldom. Some spent their little money on drink and entertainment rather than on food and clothing. Poverty, ignorance and lack of education and "motivation" accounted for the high incidence of nutritional disorder.