Triple burden of malnutrition among Vietnamese 0·5–11-year-old children in 2020-2021: results of SEANUTS II Vietnam

Abstract

Objective:

SEANUTS II Vietnam aims to obtain an in-depth understanding of the nutritional status and nutrient intake of children between 0.5-11.9 years old

Design:

Cross-sectional survey

Setting:

A multistage cluster systematic random sampling method was implemented in different regions in Vietnam: North Mountainous, Central Highlands, Red River Delta, North Central and Coastal Area, Southeast and Mekong River Delta.

Participants:

4001 children between 6 months and 11.9 years of age

Results:

Prevalence of stunting and underweight was higher in rural than in urban children, whereas overweight and obese rates were higher in urban areas. 12.0% of the children had anemia and especially children 0.5-1-year-old were affected (38.6%). Low serum retinol was found in 6.2% of children ≥ 4 years old. Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was 31.1% while 60.8% had low serum zinc. For nutrient intake, overall, 80.1% of the children did not meet the estimated energy requirements. For calcium intake, ∼60% of the younger children did not meet the RNI while it was 92.6% in children >7 years old. For vitamin D intake, 95.0% of the children did not meet RNI.

Conclusions:

SEANUTS II Vietnam indicated that overnutrition was more prevalent than undernutrition in urban areas, while undernutrition was found more in rural areas. The high prevalence of low serum zinc, vitamin D insufficiency and the inadequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D are of concern. Nutrition strategies for Vietnamese children should consider three sides of malnutrition and focus on approaches for the prevention malnutrition.