Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child malnutrition in Selangor, Malaysia: A pilot study
Background: Child malnutrition risk factors are globally recognized, but the specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of child malnutrition, considering socioeconomic burdens and changes in family lifestyles, remains underexplored. This study aims to identify the significance of CO...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection and Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034124000510 |
| _version_ | 1797210069717221376 |
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| author | Azizur Rahman Nezza Othman Md Abdul Kuddus Md Zobaer Hasan |
| author_facet | Azizur Rahman Nezza Othman Md Abdul Kuddus Md Zobaer Hasan |
| author_sort | Azizur Rahman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Child malnutrition risk factors are globally recognized, but the specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of child malnutrition, considering socioeconomic burdens and changes in family lifestyles, remains underexplored. This study aims to identify the significance of COVID-19-related factors in relation to the prevalence of child malnutrition in Selangor, Malaysia. Methods: Purposive sampling was employed in this pilot study to select the households with under-5 children and, a structured questionnaire was developed to gather data. Chi-squared tests, logistic regression modelling and World Health Organisation AnthroPlus software-based visualization were used for analyses. Results: The present study’s findings indicate that demographic and social factors, including 'Citizenship,' 'Type of House,' 'Number of Earning Members,' 'Father's Highest Educational Level,' and 'Number of Children in a Family,' have a statistically significant association with Wasting. Additionally, the mother's 'Highest Educational Level' is found to be linked to underweight prevalence. Within COVID-19 factors, ''COVID-19 Impact on Employment/Business'' demonstrated significance for both stunting and wasting. Multivariate analysis revealed disparities in childhood malnutrition by gender, age, and factors such as ''COVID-19 impact on children's physical activity'' and ''COVID-19 impact on children's decrease in health over the last two weeks.'' Conclusions: This study identified COVID-19 factors alongside sociodemographic variables with statistically significant relationships impacting childhood malnutrition in Selangor, Malaysia. The results underscored the substantial influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on child malnutrition prevalence. Decision-makers at family and community levels can benefit by considering these factors in their actions. However, the study's limitation lay in its dataset, urging larger-scale analyses to explore further sub-categories of the examined variables. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:04:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f32a4dfc76a74963b2054bb1f1d77c92 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1876-0341 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:04:44Z |
| publishDate | 2024-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Infection and Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-f32a4dfc76a74963b2054bb1f1d77c922024-04-13T04:21:06ZengElsevierJournal of Infection and Public Health1876-03412024-05-01175833842Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child malnutrition in Selangor, Malaysia: A pilot studyAzizur Rahman0Nezza Othman1Md Abdul Kuddus2Md Zobaer Hasan3School of Computing, Mathematics and Engineering, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia; Corresponding author.School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor D.E., MalaysiaSchool of Computing, Mathematics and Engineering, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia; Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; Department of Mathematics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, BangladeshSchool of Computing, Mathematics and Engineering, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia; School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor D.E., MalaysiaBackground: Child malnutrition risk factors are globally recognized, but the specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of child malnutrition, considering socioeconomic burdens and changes in family lifestyles, remains underexplored. This study aims to identify the significance of COVID-19-related factors in relation to the prevalence of child malnutrition in Selangor, Malaysia. Methods: Purposive sampling was employed in this pilot study to select the households with under-5 children and, a structured questionnaire was developed to gather data. Chi-squared tests, logistic regression modelling and World Health Organisation AnthroPlus software-based visualization were used for analyses. Results: The present study’s findings indicate that demographic and social factors, including 'Citizenship,' 'Type of House,' 'Number of Earning Members,' 'Father's Highest Educational Level,' and 'Number of Children in a Family,' have a statistically significant association with Wasting. Additionally, the mother's 'Highest Educational Level' is found to be linked to underweight prevalence. Within COVID-19 factors, ''COVID-19 Impact on Employment/Business'' demonstrated significance for both stunting and wasting. Multivariate analysis revealed disparities in childhood malnutrition by gender, age, and factors such as ''COVID-19 impact on children's physical activity'' and ''COVID-19 impact on children's decrease in health over the last two weeks.'' Conclusions: This study identified COVID-19 factors alongside sociodemographic variables with statistically significant relationships impacting childhood malnutrition in Selangor, Malaysia. The results underscored the substantial influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on child malnutrition prevalence. Decision-makers at family and community levels can benefit by considering these factors in their actions. However, the study's limitation lay in its dataset, urging larger-scale analyses to explore further sub-categories of the examined variables.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034124000510Paediatric nutritionMalnutrition determinantsSocioeconomic impactFamily lifestyleCOVID-19 risk factors |
| spellingShingle | Azizur Rahman Nezza Othman Md Abdul Kuddus Md Zobaer Hasan Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child malnutrition in Selangor, Malaysia: A pilot study Journal of Infection and Public Health Paediatric nutrition Malnutrition determinants Socioeconomic impact Family lifestyle COVID-19 risk factors |
| title | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child malnutrition in Selangor, Malaysia: A pilot study |
| title_full | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child malnutrition in Selangor, Malaysia: A pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child malnutrition in Selangor, Malaysia: A pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child malnutrition in Selangor, Malaysia: A pilot study |
| title_short | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child malnutrition in Selangor, Malaysia: A pilot study |
| title_sort | impact of the covid 19 pandemic on child malnutrition in selangor malaysia a pilot study |
| topic | Paediatric nutrition Malnutrition determinants Socioeconomic impact Family lifestyle COVID-19 risk factors |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034124000510 |
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