Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume 15, Issue 4, 2006, Pages 482-490

Obesity and undernutrition in sub-Saharan African immigrant and refugee children in Victoria, Australia (Article)

Renzaho A.M.N.* , Gibbons C. , Swinburn B. , Jolley D. , Burns C.
  • a School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic. 3125, Australia, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic. 3125, Australia
  • b School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic. 3125, Australia
  • c School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic. 3125, Australia
  • d School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic. 3125, Australia
  • e School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic. 3125, Australia

Abstract

The study assessed the anthropometric status of 337 sub-Saharan African children aged between 3-12 years who migrated to Australia. These children were selected using a snowball sampling method stratified by age, gender and region of origin. The prevalence rates for overweight and obesity were 18.4% (95%CI: 14 - 23%) and 8.6% (95%CI: 6% -12%) respectively. The prevalence rates for the indicators of undernutrition were: wasting 4.3% (95%CI: 1.6%-9.1%), underweight 1.2% (95%CI: 0.3%-3.0%), and stunting 0.3 (95%CI: 0.0%-1.6%). Higher prevalence of overweight/obesity was associated with lower household income level, fewer siblings, lower birth weight, western African background, and single parent households (after controlling for demographic and socio-economic factors). Higher prevalence rates for underweight and wasting were associated with lower household income and shorter lengths of stay in Australia respectively. No effect was found for child's age, gender, parental education and occupation for both obesity and undernutrition indices. In conclusion, obesity and overweight are very prevalent in SSA migrant children and undernutrition, especially wasting, was also not uncommon in this target group.

Author Keywords

Sub-Saharan Africa Migration Obesity Children Refugees Undernutrition

Index Keywords

Child Nutrition Disorders Africa south of the Sahara refugee Australia physiology risk human sex difference Refugees Odds Ratio nutritional disorder obesity Victoria ethnology Humans male female preschool child Socioeconomic Factors Child, Preschool socioeconomics prevalence Article migration body weight age Sex Factors Age Factors malnutrition Emigration and Immigration anthropometry body height Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33845427673&partnerID=40&md5=74b8319f6c7d08862d1d27a35713a8f1
ISSN: 09647058
Cited by: 56
Original Language: English