Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Malnutrition is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in the elderly. The objectives of this survey were to determine the malnutrition and food insecurity prevalence among the elderly in Malaysia and to determine its risk factors. METHODS: Data from a cross sectional survey derived from National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2018 was used. A stratified cluster sampling design involving a total of 3977 elderly aged 60 years and above. (51.1% females; 57.6% Malays, 26.5% Chinese, 6.5% Indian and 9.4% others). A face to face interview using mobile device was used during data collection. Malnutrition was determined using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool. Food security was defined according to low (score 2-4) and very low food secure (score 5-6) based on the USDA Short Form Food Security Survey Module. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive and multiple logistic regression model were used in the analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of food insecurity was 10.4%, and 30.8% were malnourished. The following factors were found to significantly increase the risk of malnutrition; rural strata (aOR 1.36, 95%CI: 1.06, 1.75), being single (aOR 1.47, 95%CI: 1.22, 1.77), no formal education level (aOR 2.13, 95%CI: 1.34, 3.41), low social support (aOR 2.02, 95%CI:1.55, 2.62) and presence of food insecurity (aOR 2.01 95%CI; 1.60, 2.52). CONCLUSION: A third of the Malaysian elderly was malnourished and associated with food insecurity and low socioeconomic status, being single and residing in rural areas. There is a need to promptly identify those at high risk and review the current strategy to effectively address malnutrition and food insecurity in the country.
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@proceedings{APCPH-2019-8,
title = {Prevalence of Food Insecurity and Malnutrition; Factors Related to Malnutrition in The Elderly},
author = {Ruhaya Salleh},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-07-22},
urldate = {2019-07-22},
journal = {6th Asia-Pacific Conference on Public Health 2019 Proceedings},
issue = {6},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Malnutrition is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in the elderly. The objectives of this survey were to determine the malnutrition and food insecurity prevalence among the elderly in Malaysia and to determine its risk factors. METHODS: Data from a cross sectional survey derived from National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2018 was used. A stratified cluster sampling design involving a total of 3977 elderly aged 60 years and above. (51.1% females; 57.6% Malays, 26.5% Chinese, 6.5% Indian and 9.4% others). A face to face interview using mobile device was used during data collection. Malnutrition was determined using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool. Food security was defined according to low (score 2-4) and very low food secure (score 5-6) based on the USDA Short Form Food Security Survey Module. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive and multiple logistic regression model were used in the analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of food insecurity was 10.4%, and 30.8% were malnourished. The following factors were found to significantly increase the risk of malnutrition; rural strata (aOR 1.36, 95%CI: 1.06, 1.75), being single (aOR 1.47, 95%CI: 1.22, 1.77), no formal education level (aOR 2.13, 95%CI: 1.34, 3.41), low social support (aOR 2.02, 95%CI:1.55, 2.62) and presence of food insecurity (aOR 2.01 95%CI; 1.60, 2.52). CONCLUSION: A third of the Malaysian elderly was malnourished and associated with food insecurity and low socioeconomic status, being single and residing in rural areas. There is a need to promptly identify those at high risk and review the current strategy to effectively address malnutrition and food insecurity in the country.},
note = {Type: PLENARY AND SYMPOSIUM; Organisation: Institute for Public Health, National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health},
keywords = {Elderly, Food insecurity, Malaysia, Malnutrition, National Health and Morbidity Survey},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {proceedings}
}