Abstract
This study aimed to describe the nutritional status and dietary patterns of Cambodian school-aged children compared with those in the South East Asian Nutrition Survey (SEANUTS; Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam in 2011) and to clarify the urban-rural differences using data from a nationally representative sample. The survey was conducted in 2014/2015 with a sample of 2020 children aged 6–17 years from 136 randomly selected schools. Standardized anthropometric measurements and a 1-day dietary survey by 24-h recall method were conducted. Extended analyses in the present study revealed that the difference between rural and urban areas was similar to that of the SEANUTS; the overall prevalence of stunting remained high (33.2%). Stunting was more prevalent in children living in rural areas than in those in urban areas (total: 36.4% vs. 20.4%). In contrast, the overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was not as high (3.1%), but was higher among urban children in all age groups compared with those living in rural areas (total: 6.4% vs. 2.3%). Overall, the dietary intake of children did not meet the local recommended dietary allowances, which was similar to the results of the SEANUTS and differed across urban and rural areas.
Highlights
Cambodia is a Southeast Asian country, and the proportion of children aged 6–17 years was 24.6%of the total population (14,677 million, 2013) [1]
The results show that the Height-for-age z-score (HAZ) and Body mass index-for-age z-score (BAZ) of Cambodian school-aged children were both below the WHO standards [20] for all age groups and sexes and that undernutrition remains a problem in Cambodia
In Cambodia, the overall prevalence of stunting was high and that of overweight and obesity was not as high compared with the South East Asian Nutrition Survey (SEANUTS)
Summary
Cambodia is a Southeast Asian country, and the proportion of children aged 6–17 years was 24.6%of the total population (14,677 million, 2013) [1]. Cambodia is a Southeast Asian country, and the proportion of children aged 6–17 years was 24.6%. Several surveys targeting children under 5 years of age have been conducted in the country, and nutrition polices for this segment have been implemented [4]. Nutrition surveys or policies for school-aged children are limited [5,6]. Nutritional conditions, under 5 years, and during the school-aged period, affect cognitive ability and subsequently influence the generation [6,7,8,9]. Four countries in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia) have conducted nationwide surveys in response to the need for information on the nutritional
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