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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Anthropometric characteristics of older people in rural Malawi | | Author(s) | D M Chilima, S J Ismail |
| Journal title | European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol 52, 1998 |
| Pages | pp 643-649 |
| Keywords | Musculoskeletal systems ; Weight ; Dimensions ; Nutrition ; Malnutrition ; Measurement ; Malawi. |
| Annotation | Older people are becoming an increasingly important proportion of the populations of developing countries, yet little information exists on their nutritional status or social conditions. Using selected anthropometric measurements, the nutrition of 296 older people aged 55 to 94 (97 males, mean age 63.3; and 199 females, mean age 68.9) in rural areas of Lilongwe, Malawi, was studied. Some 90% were involved in agricultural activities. Kyphosis was seen in 17.3% of all subjects, and oedema in 4.1%. Men were heavier and taller than women, but women had larger mid upper arm circumferences (MUACs) and triceps skinfolds than men. The prevalence of undernutrition, defined as body mass index (BMI) <18.5kg per square metre was 36.1% among males and 27% among females. In contrast, using MUAC (cut-offs 23cm for males, 22cm for females), 20.4% of the men and and only 10% of the women were classified as malnourished. The study demonstrated for the first time that undernutrition is a significant problem among older people in rural Malawi. It highlights the need to incorporate older people into existing and future nutrition and health programmes. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-990301210 A |
| Classmark | BK6: 4X6: 52: CF: CSM: 3R: 7NT * |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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