Anthropometric characteristics of older people in rural Malawi.
BACKGROUND
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.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the nutritional status of older people in rural Malawi.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Lilongwe, Malawi.


METHODS
A total of 296 respondents (97 males and 199 females) aged from 55-94 y were studied.


METHODS
Selected anthropometric measurements were taken by trained personnel. Among kyphotic respondents, height was estimated from armspan using regression equations derived from the non-kyphotic respondents. Body mass index (BMI) and corrected arm muscle area (CAMA) were computed using standard equations.


RESULTS
The mean age of the respondents was 63.3 y and 68.9 y among females and males, respectively. Kyphosis was seen in 17.3% of all subjects and oedema in 4.1%. Nearly 90% of the subjects were involved in agricultural activities. Men were heavier and taller than women but women had larger MUACs and triceps skinfolds than males. The mean BMIs in kg/m2 (+/- s.d.) were as follows: 19.7 (2.6) for men and 20.3 (3.0) for women. The prevalence of undernutrition, defined as BMI< 18.5 kg/m2, was 36.1% among males and 27.0% among females. In contrast, using MUAC (cut-offs 23 cm for males and 22 cm for females), 20.4% of the men and only 10% of the women were classified as malnourished.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Chilima
D M
DM
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Public Health Nutrition Unit, UK.
Ismail
S J
SJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D004487:Edema / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D012424:Rural Population; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012885:Skinfold Thickness