TABLE 1.
Household and individual characteristics in the 2015–2016 Malawi National Micronutrient Survey1
| Characteristics | n (unweighted) | Percentage (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|
| Household (n = 2112) | ||
| Rural residence | 1791 | 87.2 (75.8, 98.5) |
| Region | ||
| North | 690 | 11.6 (6.2, 17.0) |
| Central | 718 | 42.7 (29.3, 56.1) |
| South | 704 | 45.8 (35.6, 58.9) |
| Reported moderate hunger in past month2 | 1045 | 57.6 (52.0, 63.3) |
| Reported severe hunger in past month2 | 81 | 2.7 (1.6, 3.7) |
| Preschool age children (n = 1102) | ||
| Age group, mo | ||
| 6–23 | 332 | 31.2 (27.1, 35.3) |
| 24–59 | 770 | 68.8 (64.7, 72.9) |
| Male sex | 539 | 50.3 (47.3, 53.3) |
| Stunting3 | 358 | 34.8 (31.0, 38.5) |
| Anemia4 | 342 | 30.6 (26.9, 34.4) |
| Iron deficiency5 | 222 | 21.7 (16.2, 27.2) |
| Iron deficiency anemia6 | 97 | 9.3 (6.4, 12.2) |
| Positive malaria (rapid test) | 290 | 27.9 (19.9, 35.9) |
| CRP concentration >5 mg/L | 279 | 23.9 (19.4, 28.5) |
| AGP concentration >1 g/L | 637 | 56.0 (50.5, 61.4) |
| CRP >5 mg/L or AGP >1 g/L | 651 | 57.0 (51.5, 62.6) |
| School age children (n = 758) | ||
| Age group, y | ||
| 5–10 | 502 | 65.7 (61.9, 69.6) |
| 11–14 | 256 | 34.3 (30.4, 38.1) |
| Male sex | 372 | 50.9 (46.5, 55.3) |
| Anemia4 | 158 | 23.0 (18.4, 27.6) |
| Iron deficiency5 | 34 | 4.9 (2.9, 6.8) |
| Iron deficiency anemia6 | 11 | 1.7 (0.3, 3.1) |
| Positive malaria (rapid test) | 282 | 40.6 (33.8, 47.5) |
| CRP concentration >5 mg/L | 124 | 15.9 (11.9, 19.9) |
| AGP concentration >1 g/L | 251 | 31.8 (27.1, 36.4) |
| CRP >5 mg/L or AGP >1 g/L | 263 | 33.8 (28.7, 38.8) |
| Non-pregnant women of reproductive age (n = 752) | ||
| Age, y | ||
| 15–19 | 159 | 20.2 (16.7, 23.7) |
| 20–29 | 270 | 38.3 (32.3, 44.3) |
| 30–49 | 323 | 41.5 (37.0, 46.0) |
| Weight status | ||
| Underweight (BMI <18.5) | 65 | 9.0 (6.8, 11.3) |
| Normal (18.5 ≤ BMI <25) | 549 | 76.5 (72.1, 80.8) |
| Overweight (25 ≤ BMI <30) | 101 | 10.4 (7.1, 13.6) |
| Obese (BMI ≥30) | 29 | 4.1 (2.2, 6.0) |
| Anemia4 | 160 | 22.4 (18.7, 26.1) |
| Iron deficiency5 | 131 | 15.1 (11.8, 18.5) |
| Iron deficiency anemia6 | 69 | 8.0 (5.5, 10.4) |
| Positive malaria (rapid test) | 109 | 16.6 (12.1, 21.1) |
| CRP concentration >5 mg/L | 67 | 7.3 (5.0, 9.6) |
| AGP concentration >1 g/L | 97 | 11.1 (8.0, 14.2) |
| CRP >5 mg/L or AGP >1 g/L | 122 | 13.2 (9.9, 16.6) |
| Men (15–49 y) (n = 219) | ||
| Age, y | ||
| 15–29 | 75 | 33.9 (25.4, 42.3) |
| 30–54 | 144 | 66.1 (57.7, 74.6) |
| Weight status | ||
| Underweight (BMI <18.5) | 25 | 14.0 (7.1, 21.0) |
| Normal (18.5 ≤ BMI <25) | 177 | 81.0 (73.3, 88.6) |
| Overweight or obesity (BMI ≥25) | 16 | 5.0 (2.2, 7.9) |
| Anemia4 | 11 | 6.3 (1.9, 10.6) |
| Iron deficiency5 | 2 | 1.4 (0.0, 3.4) |
| Iron deficiency anemia6 | 0 | 0 |
| Positive malaria (rapid test) | 26 | 14.6 (6.8, 22.3) |
| CRP concentration >5 mg/L | 23 | 9.3 (3.9, 14.6) |
| AGP concentration >1 g/L | 23 | 10.5 (5.3, 15.6) |
| CRP >5 mg/L or AGP >1 g/L | 35 | 14.1 (8.0, 20.2) |
Data are weighted prevalence estimates and 95% CIs that account for complex survey design variables (strata, cluster, and weight). AGP, α1-acid glycoprotein; CRP, C-reactive protein.
Determined by the Household Hunger Scale (20).
Stunted defined as length or height-for-age z-score <2 (29).
Anemia defined as hemoglobin <11.0 g/dL (<5y) adjusted for altitude, <11.5 g/dL (5–11 y) or <12.0 g/dL (12–14 y) adjusted for altitude, <12.0 g/dL (nonpregnant women) adjusted for altitude and smoking, and <13.0 g/dL (men) adjusted for altitude (smoking data were not available for men) (30).
Iron deficient defined as inflammation-adjusted serum ferritin <12.0 µg/L (<5y) and <15.0 µg/L (5–54y) (22, 23).
Iron deficiency anemia defined as iron deficiency plus anemia.