Overweight, obesity, underweight and stunting in female primary school learners in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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dc.contributor.authorTathiah, N
dc.contributor.authorMoodley, I
dc.contributor.authorMubaiwa, V
dc.contributor.authorDenny, L
dc.contributor.authorTaylor, M
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T07:18:06Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T07:18:06Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.description.abstractBackground. Malnutrition substantially impacts the health outcomes of children. Globally, the childhood prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased, while underweight and stunting (though decreasing) continues to pose a major public health challenge. In low- to middle-income countries, a mixed pattern of over- and undernutrition (nutritional transition) can exist in communities. Objective. To describe the prevalence of malnutrition among female learners in the Nongoma and Ceza districts in Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Methods. We performed a secondary analysis of anthropometric data collected during the 2011 HPV Vaccination Demonstration Project. School health teams, comprising trained nurses, measured the height (in cm) and weight (in kg) of 963 female learners in 31 primary schools. Internationally accepted standardised measures were used as cut-offs for defining overweight, obesity, underweight and stunting. Results. We found evidence of both under- and overnutrition. Overall, 9% of female learners were overweight, 3.8% obese, 4% underweight and 9.2% stunted (using WHO/NCHS criteria). The highest levels of stunting were in the 11 - 12-year age groups, of underweight in the 10-year age group, of overweight and obesity in the 9 - 10-year age groups. Moreover, a proportion of underweight (17.4%), overweight (11.1%) and obese (22.9%) learners were also stunted. Conclusion. Our study describes the prevalence of overweight and obesity, wasting and stunting of female learners in KZN and suggests the presence of a nutritional transition in these rural communities; however, further studies are needed. Our findings emphasise the need for health promotion and education programs in schools.
dc.identifier.apacitationTathiah, N., Moodley, I., Mubaiwa, V., Denny, L., & Taylor, M. (2013). Overweight, obesity, underweight and stunting in female primary school learners in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. <i>South African Medical Journal</i>, 103(10), 718 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34906en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationTathiah, N, I Moodley, V Mubaiwa, L Denny, and M Taylor "Overweight, obesity, underweight and stunting in female primary school learners in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa." <i>South African Medical Journal</i> 103, 10. (2013): 718 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34906en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationTathiah, N., Moodley, I., Mubaiwa, V., Denny, L. & Taylor, M. 2013. Overweight, obesity, underweight and stunting in female primary school learners in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. <i>South African Medical Journal.</i> 103(10):718 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34906en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0038-2469
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Tathiah, N AU - Moodley, I AU - Mubaiwa, V AU - Denny, L AU - Taylor, M AB - Background. Malnutrition substantially impacts the health outcomes of children. Globally, the childhood prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased, while underweight and stunting (though decreasing) continues to pose a major public health challenge. In low- to middle-income countries, a mixed pattern of over- and undernutrition (nutritional transition) can exist in communities. Objective. To describe the prevalence of malnutrition among female learners in the Nongoma and Ceza districts in Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Methods. We performed a secondary analysis of anthropometric data collected during the 2011 HPV Vaccination Demonstration Project. School health teams, comprising trained nurses, measured the height (in cm) and weight (in kg) of 963 female learners in 31 primary schools. Internationally accepted standardised measures were used as cut-offs for defining overweight, obesity, underweight and stunting. Results. We found evidence of both under- and overnutrition. Overall, 9% of female learners were overweight, 3.8% obese, 4% underweight and 9.2% stunted (using WHO/NCHS criteria). The highest levels of stunting were in the 11 - 12-year age groups, of underweight in the 10-year age group, of overweight and obesity in the 9 - 10-year age groups. Moreover, a proportion of underweight (17.4%), overweight (11.1%) and obese (22.9%) learners were also stunted. Conclusion. Our study describes the prevalence of overweight and obesity, wasting and stunting of female learners in KZN and suggests the presence of a nutritional transition in these rural communities; however, further studies are needed. Our findings emphasise the need for health promotion and education programs in schools. DA - 2013 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 10 J1 - South African Medical Journal LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2013 SM - 0038-2469 T1 - Overweight, obesity, underweight and stunting in female primary school learners in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa TI - Overweight, obesity, underweight and stunting in female primary school learners in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34906 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34906
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationTathiah N, Moodley I, Mubaiwa V, Denny L, Taylor M. Overweight, obesity, underweight and stunting in female primary school learners in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. South African Medical Journal. 2013;103(10):718 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34906.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.sourceSouth African Medical Journal
dc.source.journalissue10
dc.source.journalvolume103
dc.source.pagination718 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.6922
dc.subject.otheroverweight
dc.subject.otherobesity
dc.subject.otherunderweight
dc.subject.otherstunting
dc.subject.otherHPV Vaccination Demonstration Project
dc.subject.otherlearners
dc.titleOverweight, obesity, underweight and stunting in female primary school learners in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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