Are orphans at increased risk of malnutrition in Malawi

SummaryThe objective of this study was to compare the nutritional status and health problems of village orphans, non-orphans and orphanage children, and to identify factors associated with undernutrition. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three orphanages and two villages near Blantyre, Malawi. Seventy-six orphanage children, 137 village orphans and 80 village non-orphans were recruited. Anthropometric measurement was done and guardians were interviewed. In the group of children aged < 5 years, the prevalence of undernutrition in orphanage children was 54.8% compared with 33.3% and 30% of village orphans and non-orphans, respectively. Sixty-four per cent of young orphanage children were stunted compared with 50% of village orphans and 46.4%of non-orphans. The mean (SD) Z-score of height/age was significantly lower in the orphanage group,–2.75 (1.29) compared with–2.20 (1.51) and–1.61 (1.57) in the village orphan and non-orphan groups (p < 0.05). Conversely, older orphanage children (≥ 5 years) were...