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Table 2 Demographic and socio-economic characteristics of Orang Asli at community and household levels

From: Double-burden of malnutrition among the indigenous peoples (Orang Asli) of Peninsular Malaysia

Characteristic

n (%)

Mean ± SD

Community level: adults (N = 981)

  

Ethnicity

  

 Jah Hut

851 (86.7)

 

 Temuan

69 (7.0)

 

 Che Wong

61 (6.2)

 

Sex

  

 Male

455 (46.4)

 

 Female

526 (53.6)

 

Age (years)

 

37.3 ± 14.9

Marital status

  

 Single

197 (20.1)

 

 Married

678 (69.1)

 

 Divorced/widow

106 (10.8)

 

Education (years)

 

3.7 ± 4.2

Employment

  

 Employed (employer, employee, own account worker)

459 (46.8)

 

 Unpaid family worker/housewife

374 (38.2)

 

 Unemployed/student

99 (10.1)

 

 Retired

49 (5.0)

 

Income (RM/month)

 

432.65 ± 361.12

Household size

 

6.9 ± 3.2

Number of children

 

3.0 ± 2.2

Number of schooling children

 

1.5 ± 1.6

Household income (RM/month)

 

853.32 ± 880.23

Household income per capita (RM/month)a

 

130.61 ± 120.04

  < USD 29.01 (< RM 97)

497 (50.7)

 

 USD 29.01–58.02 (RM 97–194)

273 (27.8)

 

  ≥ USD 58.02 (≥ RM 194)

211 (21.5)

 

Household level: mother-child pairs (N = 160)

  

Ethnicity

  

 Jah Hut

140 (87.5)

 

 Temuan

7 (4.4)

 

 Che Wong

13 (8.1)

 

Child’s sex

  

 Boys

94 (58.8)

 

 Girls

66 (41.3)

 

Child’s age (months)

 

33.7 ± 16.4

Maternal age (years)

 

29.7 ± 7.4

Maternal marital status

  

 Married

152 (95.0)

 

 Single/divorced/widow

8 (5.0)

 

Maternal education (years)

 

4.0 ± 3.6

Maternal employment

  

 Housewife/unpaid family worker

145 (90.7)

 

 Employed

15 (9.4)

 

Maternal income (RM/month)

 

264.06 ± 234.34

Household size

 

7.3 ± 3.3

Number of children

 

3.7 ± 2.1

Number of schooling children

 

1.7 ± 1.8

Household income (RM/month)

 

851.37 ± 779.86

Household income per capita (RM/month)a

 

120.24 ± 93.38

 < USD 29.01 (< RM 97)

83 (51.9)

 

 USD 29.01–58.02 (RM 97–194)

47 (29.4)

 

 ≥ USD 58.02 (≥ RM 194)

30 (18.8)

 
  1. aLess than USD 58.02 (RM 194) (capita/month) is classified as household living in poverty according to the government Poverty Income Line [35]
  2. USD 1 = RM 3.30