4P-S3-2

HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF ABORIGINAL CHILDREN IN MALAYSIA

Hohd Sham Kasim

Dept. of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University Putra Malaysia

The Aboriginal, appropriately named Orang Asli (original), peoples of Malaysia number 130,000 in a total Malaysian population of 21 millions (0.6% of the total population). They comprise of 18 distinct cultural-linguistic groups living in scattered villages, isolated from the rest of the population. A significant number have now been resettled in resettlement villages often closer to but still isolated from the other populations. Due to their poor socio-economic and educational background and geographical isolation, they have been considered as the most deprived population group with very poor health status. The average life expectancy of the Orang Asli are 54 years for males and 52 years for females (compared to 72 years and 74 years respectively for the general Malaysian population). The Infant mortality rate amongst the Orang Asli is 52/1000 compared to the 10/1000 of the general population. Nutritional status of the Orang Asli children has been found to be grossly unsatisfactory. Most studies have found that 40-50% of children below 15 years of age are underweight and 50-60% stunted (reference NCHS below-2 SD of mean). The majority of these children are chronically worm-infested (over 80%). In major hospitals, Orang Asli admissions comprise 4-5% of total admissions. The average length of stay is longer amongst the Orang Asli children (5.9 days as compared to 4.17 days in other children) denoting delayed admission and severity of illness. Similarly, the number of Orang Asli deaths is also higher (5-8% of all child deaths in hospitals). The most frequent causes of admission to hospital include respiratory tract infections and diarrhoea also occurs amongst the general childhood population. Other causes include malaria and tuberculosis, and these 2 conditions are relatively rare amongst other Malaysian community is very unsatisfactory, reflecting its poor socio-economic and educational background.