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 and 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: The 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 anaemia 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. The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was 31·1 % while 60·8 % had low serum Zn. For nutrient intake, overall, 80·1 % of the children did not meet the estimated energy requirements. For Ca 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 recommended nutrient intakes. 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 Zn, vitamin D insufficiency and the inadequate intakes of Ca and vitamin D are of concern. Nutrition strategies for Vietnamese children should consider three sides of malnutrition and focus on approaches for the prevention of malnutrition.