MJN 2024 Issues

Malaysian Journal of Nutrition (Mal J Nutr)

Volume 30 No.1, 2024



Table of Content


Factors associated with poor appetite among residents at selected long-term care facilities in Selangor, Malaysia
Duaa Al-junid, Chan Yoke Mun, Siti Nur Asyura Adznam, Chin Yit Siew, Zalilah Mohd Shariff, Lim Poh Ying, Sazlina Shariff-Ghazali & Tanti Irawati Rosli

doi: https://doi.org/10.31246/mjn-2023-0035

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Poor appetite is prevalent among older adults and may negatively impact on their overall health. This is especially true for institutionalised residents. Despite this, there is a paucity of research on appetite and its associated factors among institutionalised residents, which signified the present study.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among elderly residents at long-term care facilities in the state of Selangor, Malaysia to ascertain their appetite status and its associated factors.
Results: : A total of 97 residents with mean age of 74.2±8.4 years old were recruited. They comprised 61.9% females and 38.1% males. More than 50% had poor appetite with early satiety. There were 63.0%, 82.4%, and 94.8% who had poor oral health, poor sleep quality, and depression, respectively. Ethnicity (OR=2.73; 95% CI=1.00-7.44; p=0.049) was the only factor that predicted poor appetite among older adults in long-term care facilities, with Malay residents having poorer appetite than their Chinese and Indian counterparts.
Conclusion: The prevalence of poor appetite was high among residents staying at long-term care facilities in Selangor, Malaysia, especially among Malays. This issue deserves further studies to identify the specific underlying factors contributing to poor appetite among older adults from different ethnicities. Acknowledging the high prevalence of poor appetite among older adults and its possible unfavourable outcomes, appropriate nutrition interventions are therefore needed to address this issue among institutionalised elderly
Key words: appetite, depressive, institutionalised residents, older adults, sleep quality

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Association between nutritional status of Filipino preschool children and participation in government programmes at the household and individual levels
Frances Pola S. Arias & Eldridge B. Ferrer

https://doi.org/10.31246/mjn-2022-0111

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Health and nutrition interventions in developing countries have been linked to better thriving and survival of children. Identifying programmes with significant effect on the nutritional status of Filipino preschool children may aid in identifying impactful interventions in addressing malnutrition. This study evaluated the association between nutritional status of preschool children and government programme participation based on the 2018 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) results.
Methods: Secondary data analysis of 12,949 preschool children was performed from the 2018 ENNS. The selected data included socioeconomic, anthropometric, and self-reported household-level and individual-level government programme participation. Chi-square test for association and multiple logistic regression were conducted using Stata version 16
Results: Participation in immunisation programme, growth monitoring, household food production, and awareness and usage of iodised salt were negatively associated with at least one type of undernutrition. Consequently, participation in deworming programme was positively associated with both underweight and stunting. Regression analysis showed that preschool children who underwent growth monitoring were less likely to be stunted (OR=0.58), while those who underwent newborn screening were less likely to be underweight (OR=0.53) and stunted (OR=0.62). On the contrary, dewormed children were more likely to be stunted (OR=1.63) and those from 4Ps households were more likely to be wasted (OR=2.24).
Conclusion: There is a need to re-evaluate programme strategies to maximise the benefits provided. Programmes showing significant associations with nutritional status including immunisation, growth monitoring, deworming, household food production, and awareness and usage of iodised salt should be continued and sustained with updated policies.
Key words: government programmes, nutritional status, preschool children

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Eating behaviour and lifestyle changes among college students in Malaysia during the Movement Control Order (MCO)
Anis Suraya Muhamad Azmi, Nur Islami Mohd Fahmi Teng & Norsham Juliana

https://doi.org/10.31246/mjn-2022-0054

ABSTRACT

Introduction: COVID-19 lockdown has been linked to alterations in eating behaviour and a sedentary lifestyle. As human-to-human transmission rapidly increased, the Movement Control Order (MCO) was put in place as an attempt to minimise the risk of the virus spreading in the community. This study aimed to determine whether eating behaviour was associated with sleep quality and physical activity among college students in Malaysia during MCO.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among Malaysian students aged between 20 to 34 years old. A simple random sampling method was applied and the participants had to complete an online survey consisting of a validated Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form (IPAQ-SF), distributed via an online platform.
Results: A total of 370 students participated, with 22.4% emotional eaters, 58.6% external eaters, and 23.0% restrained eaters. In addition, 64.3% had poor sleep quality, while 57.6% claimed to be physically active. However, no correlations were found between all eating behaviour subscales with sleep quality and physical activity.
Conclusion: More than half of college students presented with external eating behaviours. Early screening and further investigations should be done, especially with the high rate of poor sleepers, to promote and sustain a healthy lifestyle during and beyond COVID-19.
Key words: COVID-19, eating behaviour, lifestyle, movement control order

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Association between dietary diversity and complications during pregnancy in a South-West District of Bangladesh
Sabrina Zaman, Tamsel Ahammed & Md. Abu Bashar

https://doi.org/10.31246/mjn-2023-0052

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Poor dietary diversity is one of the key factors that increases the rate of complications during pregnancy. Pregnancy complications significantly increase the risk of maternal mortality. The aim of this study was to explore the associated factors between dietary diversity and complications during pregnancy.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 450 randomly selected pregnant women. Individual dietary diversity score (IDDS) was used to assess dietary diversity based on Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). IDDS was derived from 24-hour recalls from nine food groups.
Results: Most of the pregnant women (48.9%) included in this study were in their second trimester; 19.3% and 31.8% were in first trimester and third trimester, respectively. About 83.8% of respondents included in this study experienced pregnancy complications. According to IDDS, most participants (77.1%) consumed a medium-diversified diet. Only 4.4% and 18.4% of pregnant women had low and highly diversified dietary intakes, respectively. Mean IDDS was 5.62±0.93, which indicated medium diversity of dietary intake. Dietary diversity had a statistically significant correlation with age (p=0.003), monthly income (p=0.003), education level (p=0.001), and respondent’s employment (p=0.004). The study exposed that pregnancy complications had a negative correlation with food diversity (r=-0.223), marriage age (r=-0.066), and education level (r=-0.163).
Conclusion: The study concluded that pregnancy complications can be alleviated by improving dietary diversity practices during pregnancy.

Key words: dietary diversity, maternal mortality, pregnancy complications

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Socio-demographic factors and parental feeding practices predicted body mass index of Malaysian children with learning disabilities
Siti Fathiah Mohamed, Divya Vanoh & Soo Kah Leng

https://doi.org/10.31246/mjn-2023-0081

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Overweight and obesity have emerged as significant global health concerns among children. Previous studies have provided evidence that children with intellectual and learning disabilities (LD) are at a higher risk of obesity compared to their peers without disabilities.
Methods: This study aimed to predict body weight status of children with LD who attended Special Education Integration Program in Kelantan, located on East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Parents completed a self-administered questionnaire in Malay language, which included “Screening Tool of Feeding Problems” children’s version (STEP-CHILD) and Comprehensive Feeding Practice Questionnaire (CFPQ). The children’s body weight and height were measured to determine body mass index (BMI). Research hypothesis was tested through stepwise multiple linear regression analysis.
Results: This study recruited 245 subjects with mean age of 10.5±1.7 years and mean BMI of 18.5±4.9 kg/m2. Prevalence of underweight, thinness and severe thinness was 12.2%, while overweight and obesity was 29.0%. Male children with LD (β=0.109, p<0.044), older age (β=0.226, p<0.001), higher child birth weight (β=0.119, p<0.029), lack of parental modelling (β=-0.170, p=0.004), lower parental pressure (β=-0.266, p<0.001), and higher restriction for weight control (β=0.361, p<0.001) were found to predict higher BMI values.
Conclusion: Positive parental feeding practices during mealtime are crucial for addressing the poor nutritional status of children with LD.
Key words: BMI, children, learning disabilities, parental feeding practices

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Development and validation of the Salt Intake-Related Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Questionnaire for Malaysian adults
Zainorain Natasha Zainal Arifen, Ngoh Wan Hwah, Hng Jie Wei, Siti Aishah Ismail, Maryam Hanis Fairuzam & Hasnah Haron

https://doi.org/10.31246/mjn-2022-0134

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Malaysian adults consume excessive amounts of salt daily, which could lead to hypertension. Understanding knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) surrounding salt intake is crucial for designing effective interventions to reduce excessive consumption and its associated health risks. Therefore, this study aimed to adapt an existing salt intake-related KAP questionnaire that was previously employed in a local population-based survey and to validate and test its reliability.
Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised two phases: (1) adaptation, content validation (CV), and face validation (FV); (2) pilot testing and reliability testing. CV and FV involved a total of seven experts and ten Malaysian adults from the Klang Valley, respectively. Pilot testing involved 139 Malaysian adults to determine the questionnaire’s reliability. Content validity index (CVI) and Face validity index (FVI) values were calculated to analyse CV and FV. Reliability of each domain was analysed by obtaining Cronbach’s alpha (α) values.
Results: : A self-administered questionnaire comprising six items each for knowledge, attitude, and practice was developed. The questionnaire demonstrated acceptable item-level CVI (I-CVI) and item-level FVI (I-FVI) values of at least 0.83, indicating that the items were relevant, clear, non-ambiguous, and simple. Reliability test showed acceptable α values of at least 0.70 for each domain, suggesting that the questionnaire was reliable.
Conclusion: This tool could be considered valid and reliable for assessing the level of KAP towards salt intake among adults in Malaysia.
Key words: adults, awareness, questionnaire, salt intake, validation

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