Prevalence and Determinants of Anemia among Indigenous Orang Asli Children Under 5 in Rural Peninsular Malaysia.

This article focuses on the high prevalence and determinants of anemia among indigenous Orang Asli children under five years old in rural Peninsular Malaysia. A cross-sectional study of 503 children attending government mobile clinics across four districts found an overall anemia prevalence of 86.1%, with moderate anemia being most common. Key factors associated with anemia included early initiation of complementary feeding before six months and recent episodes of fever or upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Geographic differences were noted, with children from Jerantut and Lipis districts showing significantly lower odds of anemia compared to those in Cameron Highlands, possibly due to variations in traditional food access and livelihood disruptions. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve infant feeding practices and infection management, alongside further research into district-specific protective factors.