Double burden of malnutrition and body composition among ethnic minority children aged 5–16 years in Tra Vinh, Vietnam: a community-based study
Lan Thi Hoang Bui, Anh Nguyen Quynh Tran, Lan Anh Thi Pham, Phuong Thi Thu Pham, Trung Quoc Hieu Huynh, Phuc Truong Vinh Le, Binh Vo Tran Trong, Dung Van Truong, Linh Duc Tran, Truc Thanh ThaiAbstract
Background
The double burden of malnutrition is increasingly evident in low- and middle-income countries; however, data on ethnic minority children (Khmer, Cham, and Hoa) in Vietnam remain scarce, possibly due to underrepresentation in surveillance, dietary transition, and limited access to health services.
Methods
This community-based cross-sectional study involved 714 ethnic minority children aged 5–16 years in Tra Vinh province, Vietnam, with anthropometry, body composition (InBody 270), and dietary factors assessed using standard protocols.
Results
The prevalence of stunting, thinness, and overweight/obesity was 6.3%, 22.6%, and 16.4%, respectively. Stunting was associated with paternal primary education (adjusted odds ratios [AOR] = 2.79, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.20–6.47) and breakfast skipping (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.07–4.09). Thinness was associated with household poverty (AOR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.14–2.66) but inversely with nutrition knowledge (AOR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.90–0.99). Overweight/obesity was associated with age 5–10 years (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.06–2.44) and higher Non-Communicable Disease (NCD)-Protect dietary scores (reflecting consumption of foods protective against non-communicable diseases) (AOR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.02–1.23). Many children with normal nutritional status showed substantial body composition abnormalities.
Conclusions
Ethnic minority children experience a substantial double burden of malnutrition, and abnormal body composition among those with normal anthropometry highlights limitations of conventional nutrition monitoring.