Dataset

This dataset was created by Dilara Özcerit

Contents

This statistic represents the average height of men in the top 20 countries worldwide as of 2016. On average, men are ***** centimeters tall in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

From the project page https://clio-infra.eu/Indicators/Height.html:

This variable contains anthropometric information which can be used as an indicator for human health and welfare in 165 countries spanning the period 1810-1989, and a smaller number of countries 1500-1800

This statistic represents the average height of men and women in selected countries worldwide as of 2008. On average, men are ***** centimeters and women are ***** centimeters tall in Australia.

This is a data set from the publication

Hatton, T. J., & Bray, B. E. (2010). Long run trends in the heights of European men, 19th–20th centuries. Economics & Human Biology, 8(3), 405–413. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2010.03.001The data set represents average height of the men from several European countries born in the cohorts 1856-1980, 5-years averages.

In the shown time-period the mean height of men and women has generally increased in England. According to the survey, the average height of males rose slightly during the period in consideration, from 174.4 centimeters in 1998 to 176.2 centimeters (approximately 5'9") in 2022. In comparison, the mean height of women was 162.3 centimeters (5'4") in 2022, up from 161 in 1998. Reasons for height increasing While a large part of an adult’s final height is based on genetics, the environment in which a person grows up is also important. Improvements in nutrition, healthcare, and hygiene have seen the average heights increase over the last century, particularly in developed countries. Average height is usually seen as a barometer for the overall health of the population of a country, as the most developed are usually among the ‘tallest’ countries. Average waist circumference also increasing The prevalence of obesity among adults in England has generally been trending upward since 2000. In that year, 21 percent of men and women in England were classified as obese. By 2021, however, this share was 26 percent among women and 25 percent among men. Every adult age group in England had an average BMI which was classified as overweight, apart from those aged 16 to 24, indicating there is a problem with overweightness in England.

In 2023, the average height of South Korean men in their thirties lay at ****** centimeters. Men in older age groups tended to be shorter. On average, South Korean men were ****** centimeters tall that year. Diet and healthcare in South Korea It has been observed that improvements in nutrition and healthcare lead to increased average height over time. With the rapid industrialization in South Korea came improvements in healthcare and nutritional intake. South Korea ranks among the leading countries in the health index, which measures a population’s health and a country’s healthcare system. Even with an excellent healthcare system, South Koreans have increasingly been concerned about their diet and nutrition, exemplified by the share of people trying to consume certain nutrients every day. Height preferences in South Korea  According to a 2019 survey, for most respondents the preferred height for South Korean men was higher than the current average. This discrepancy was similar for the preferred height for women, showing how preferences for taller people stretched across genders. Not only are South Koreans preferring taller partners, but they are also getting taller over time. Another survey found that the ideal height for a spouse in the country came closer to the average height of younger generations.

** Apologies in advance for sharing the data in XLSX format but had no other choice as I wanted to present/share all the crucial information in 1 single file. **

Trends of adult height in India from 1998 to 2015

Several studies in the past have shown that the average height of adults across the globe is is on the rise, but against this trend, the average height of adults in India is declining at an alarming rate, as per a study titled ‘Trends of adult height in India from 1998 to 2015: Evidence from the National Family and Health Survey’.

The authors of this study have stated, “In the context of an overall increase in average heights worldwide, the decline in the average height of adults in India is alarming and demands an urgent enquiry. The argument for different standards of height for the Indian population as different genetic groups needs further scrutiny.”

The study further states that the decline in the average height of Indian adults is not just because of a genetic factor, but various non-genetic factors have also come into play, such as lifestyle, nutrition, social and economic determinants and so on.

Content

Acknowledgements & Citations

Citation: Choudhary KK, Das S, Ghodajkar P (2021) Trends of adult height in India from 1998 to 2015: Evidence from the National Family and Health Survey. PLoS ONE 16(9): e0255676. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255676

Average human height by country - wikipedia

Inspiration

Read an article online about the decline of average height of adults in India and got curious about the data the researcher collected over 17 years.

Online Article link here

File List HumanHeightWikipediaJan192011.csv HumanHeightDataFile.csv HeightHumanDataRefsFeb32011.doc Description HumanHeightWikipediaJan192011.csv contains height data originally downloaded from Wikipedia “Human Height” page, Jan. 19, 2011. HumanHeightDataFile.csv contains average per country male and female human height data with country name and latitude used for Figure 4. HeightHumanDataRefsFeb32011.doc contains publications and other sources for average per country human height data, based on sources listed on Wikipedia, supplemented with addition information and sources.

As per the results of a large scale survey in 2019, the average height of Indian respondents was five feet and *** inches. Among the surveyed Indian cities, Chennai had the tallest people, whereas Hyderabad had the shortest people in the country.

Malawi MW: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 51.800 % in 2010. This records a decrease from the previous number of 52.400 % for 2009. Malawi MW: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 55.200 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2010, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 58.100 % in 1992 and a record low of 51.800 % in 2010. Malawi MW: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malawi – Table MW.World Bank: Health Statistics. Prevalence of stunting, male, is the percentage of boys under age 5 whose height for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. For children up to two years old height is measured by recumbent length. For older children height is measured by stature while standing. The data are based on the WHO's new child growth standards released in 2006.; ; World Health Organization, Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Country-level data are unadjusted data from national surveys, and thus may not be comparable across countries.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Undernourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments such as diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Frequent illness saps the nutritional status of those who survive, locking them into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth (UNICEF, www.childinfo.org). Estimates of child malnutrition, based on prevalence of underweight and stunting, are from national survey data. The proportion of underweight children is the most common malnutrition indicator. Being even mildly underweight increases the risk of death and inhibits cognitive development in children. And it perpetuates the problem across generations, as malnourished women are more likely to have low-birth-weight babies. Stunting, or being below median height for age, is often used as a proxy for multifaceted deprivation and as an indicator of long-term changes in malnutrition.

Pakistan PK: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 48.400 % in 2012. This records an increase from the previous number of 43.800 % for 2011. Pakistan PK: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 43.800 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2012, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 56.700 % in 1991 and a record low of 42.200 % in 2001. Pakistan PK: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.World Bank: Health Statistics. Prevalence of stunting, male, is the percentage of boys under age 5 whose height for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. For children up to two years old height is measured by recumbent length. For older children height is measured by stature while standing. The data are based on the WHO's new child growth standards released in 2006.; ; World Health Organization, Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Country-level data are unadjusted data from national surveys, and thus may not be comparable across countries.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Undernourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments such as diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Frequent illness saps the nutritional status of those who survive, locking them into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth (UNICEF, www.childinfo.org). Estimates of child malnutrition, based on prevalence of underweight and stunting, are from national survey data. The proportion of underweight children is the most common malnutrition indicator. Being even mildly underweight increases the risk of death and inhibits cognitive development in children. And it perpetuates the problem across generations, as malnourished women are more likely to have low-birth-weight babies. Stunting, or being below median height for age, is often used as a proxy for multifaceted deprivation and as an indicator of long-term changes in malnutrition.

In 2020, the average height of males aged between 18 and 44 years in China figured at ***** centimeters, up *** centimeters compared to that in 2015. On the other side, obesity and overweight conditions have seen a gradual increase across the country mainly related to an unhealthy diet and a less active urban lifestyle.

Moldova MD: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 5.800 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.000 % for 2005. Moldova MD: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 8.400 % from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2012, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.000 % in 2005 and a record low of 5.800 % in 2012. Moldova MD: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Moldova – Table MD.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Prevalence of stunting, male, is the percentage of boys under age 5 whose height for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. For children up to two years old height is measured by recumbent length. For older children height is measured by stature while standing. The data are based on the WHO's new child growth standards released in 2006.; ; World Health Organization, Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Country-level data are unadjusted data from national surveys, and thus may not be comparable across countries.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Undernourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments such as diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Frequent illness saps the nutritional status of those who survive, locking them into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth (UNICEF, www.childinfo.org). Estimates of child malnutrition, based on prevalence of underweight and stunting, are from national survey data. The proportion of underweight children is the most common malnutrition indicator. Being even mildly underweight increases the risk of death and inhibits cognitive development in children. And it perpetuates the problem across generations, as malnourished women are more likely to have low-birth-weight babies. Stunting, or being below median height for age, is often used as a proxy for multifaceted deprivation and as an indicator of long-term changes in malnutrition.

The 2006 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) is a nationally representative survey of 8,531 women age 15-49 and 2,503 men age 15-54. The UDHS is the fourth comprehensive survey conducted in Uganda as part of the worldwide Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) project. The primary purpose of the UDHS is to furnish policymakers and planners with detailed information on fertility; family planning; infant, child, adult, and maternal mortality; maternal and child health; nutrition; and knowledge of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. In addition, in one in three households selected for the survey, women age 15-49, men age 15-54, and children under age 5 years were weighed and their height was measured. Women, men, and children age 6-59 months in this subset of households were tested for anaemia, and women and children were tested for vitamin A deficiency. The 2006 UDHS is the first DHS survey in Uganda to cover the entire country. The 2006 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) was designed to provide information on demographic, health, and family planning status and trends in the country. Specifically, the UDHS collected information on fertility levels, marriage, sexual activity, fertility preferences, awareness and use of family planning methods, and breastfeeding practices. In addition, data were collected on the nutritional status of mothers and young children; infant, child, adult, and maternal mortality; maternal and child health; awareness and behaviour regarding HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections; and levels of anaemia and vitamin A deficiency. The 2006 UDHS is a follow-up to the 1988-1989, 1995, and 2000-2001 UDHS surveys, which were also implemented by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). The specific objectives of the 2006 UDHS are as follows: To collect data at the national level that will allow the calculation of demographic rates, particularly the fertility and infant mortality rates To analyse the direct and indirect factors that determine the level and trends in fertility and mortality To measure the level of contraceptive knowledge and practice of women and men by method, by urban-rural residence, and by region To collect data on knowledge and attitudes of women and men about sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS, and to evaluate patterns of recent behaviour regarding condom use To assess the nutritional status of children under age five and women by means of anthropometric measurements (weight and height), and to assess child feeding practices To collect data on family health, including immunizations, prevalence and treatment of diarrhoea and other diseases among children under five, antenatal visits, assistance at delivery, and breastfeeding To measure vitamin A deficiency in women and children, and to measure anaemia in women, men, and children To measure key education indicators including school attendance ratios and primary school grade repetition and dropout rates To collect information on the extent of disability To collect information on the extent of gender-based violence. MAIN RESULTS Fertility : Survey results indicate that the total fertility rate (TFR) for the country is 6.7 births per woman. The TFR in urban areas is much lower than in the rural areas (4.4 and 7.1 children, respectively). Kampala, whose TFR is 3.7, has the lowest fertility. Fertility rates in Central 1, Central 2, and Southwest regions are also lower than the national level. Removing four districts from the 2006 data that were not covered in the 20002001 UDHS, the 2006 TFR is 6.5 births per woman, compared with 6.9 from the 2000-2001 UDHS. Education and wealth have a marked effect on fertility, with uneducated mothers having about three more children on average than women with at least some secondary education and women in the lowest wealth quintile having almost twice as many children as women in the highest wealth quintile. Family planning : Overall, knowledge of family planning has remained consistently high in Uganda over the past five years, with 97 percent of all women and 98 percent of all men age 15-49 having heard of at least one method of contraception. Pills, injectables, and condoms are the most widely known modern methods among both women and men. Maternal health : Ninety-four percent of women who had a live birth in the five years preceding the survey received antenatal care from a skilled health professional for their last birth. These results are comparable to the 2000-2001 UDHS. Only 47 percent of women make four or more antenatal care visits during their entire pregnancy, an improvement from 42 percent in the 2000-2001 UDHS. The median duration of pregnancy for the first antenatal visit is 5.5 months, indicating that Ugandan women start antenatal care at a relatively late stage in pregnancy. Child health : Forty-six percent of children age 12-23 months have been fully vaccinated. Over nine in ten (91 percent) have received the BCG vaccination, and 68 percent have been vaccinated against measles. The coverage for the first doses of DPT and polio is relatively high (90 percent for each). However, only 64 percent go on to receive the third dose of DPT, and only 59 percent receive their third dose of polio vaccine. There are notable improvements in vaccination coverage since the 2000-2001 UDHS. The percentage of children age 12-23 months fully vaccinated at the time of the survey increased from 37 percent in 2000-2001 to 44 percent in 2006. The percentage who had received none of the six basic vaccinations decreased from 13 percent in 2000-2001 to 8 percent in 2006. Malaria : The 2006 UDHS gathered information on the use of mosquito nets, both treated and untreated. The data show that only 34 percent of households in Uganda own a mosquito net, with 16 percent of households owning an insecticide-treated net (ITN). Only 22 percent of children under five slept under a mosquito net on the night before the interview, while a mere 10 percent slept under an ITN. Breastfeeding and nutrition : In Uganda, almost all children are breastfed at some point. However, only six in ten children under the age of 6 months are exclusively breast-fed. HIV/AIDS AND stis : Knowledge of AIDS is very high and widespread in Uganda. In terms of HIV prevention strategies, women and men are most aware that the chances of getting the AIDS virus can be reduced by limiting sex to one uninfected partner who has no other partners (89 percent of women and 95 percent of men) or by abstaining from sexual intercourse (86 percent of women and 93 percent of men). Knowledge of condoms and the role they can play in preventing transmission of the AIDS virus is not quite as high (70 percent of women and 84 percent of men). Orphanhood and vulnerability : Almost one in seven children under age 18 is orphaned (15 percent), that is, one or both parents are dead. Only 3 percent of children under the age of 18 have lost both biological parents. Women's status and gender violence : Data for the 2006 UDHS show that women in Uganda are generally less educated than men. Although the gender gap has narrowed in recent years, 19 percent of women age 15-49 have never been to school, compared with only 5 percent of men in the same age group. Mortality : At current mortality levels, one in every 13 Ugandan children dies before reaching age one, while one in every seven does not survive to the fifth birthday. After removing districts not covered in the 2000-2001 UDHS from the 2006 data, findings show that infant mortality has declined from 89 deaths per 1,000 live births in the 2000-2001 UDHS to 75 in the 2006 UDHS. Under-five mortality has declined from 158 deaths per 1,000 live births to 137.

In 2023, South Korean high school students were among the tallest in Asia, with male students aged 16 years old averaging ***** cm and female students averaging ***** cm. Both South Korean men and women have seen drastic increases in height over the past century, and in the case of women, the change in average height is the largest increase for any population in the world. Height is linked to health The average height of a population can be a good indicator for the overall health of that country; aside from genetic factors, nutrition and childhood infections play an important role in how a child will develop in terms of growth. South Koreans can expect to live longer these days; the average life expectancy at birth has steadily increased and was at **** years as of 2022. Women are expected to live slightly longer than men by around five years. The average weight of South Korean high school students has also generally increased over the years, which may suggest nutrition has improved. However, as with many other OECD countries, the obesity rate has also increased among the population.

Iraq IQ: Prevalence of Overweight: Weight for Height: Male: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 12.500 % in 2011. This records a decrease from the previous number of 15.600 % for 2006. Iraq IQ: Prevalence of Overweight: Weight for Height: Male: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 12.500 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.600 % in 2006 and a record low of 5.700 % in 2000. Iraq IQ: Prevalence of Overweight: Weight for Height: Male: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iraq – Table IQ.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Prevalence of overweight, male, is the percentage of boys under age 5 whose weight for height is more than two standard deviations above the median for the international reference population of the corresponding age as established by the WHO's new child growth standards released in 2006.; ; World Health Organization, Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Country-level data are unadjusted data from national surveys, and thus may not be comparable across countries.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Estimates of overweight children are also from national survey data. Once considered only a high-income economy problem, overweight children have become a growing concern in developing countries. Research shows an association between childhood obesity and a high prevalence of diabetes, respiratory disease, high blood pressure, and psychosocial and orthopedic disorders (de Onis and Blössner 2003). Childhood obesity is associated with a higher chance of obesity, premature death, and disability in adulthood. In addition to increased future risks, obese children experience breathing difficulties and increased risk of fractures, hypertension, early markers of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and psychological effects. Children in low- and middle-income countries are more vulnerable to inadequate nutrition before birth and in infancy and early childhood. Many of these children are exposed to high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt, calorie-dense, micronutrient-poor foods, which tend be lower in cost than more nutritious foods. These dietary patterns, in conjunction with low levels of physical activity, result in sharp increases in childhood obesity, while under-nutrition continues

Iraq IQ: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 23.500 % in 2011. This records a decrease from the previous number of 28.700 % for 2006. Iraq IQ: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 28.700 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28.900 % in 2000 and a record low of 23.500 % in 2011. Iraq IQ: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iraq – Table IQ.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Prevalence of stunting, male, is the percentage of boys under age 5 whose height for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. For children up to two years old height is measured by recumbent length. For older children height is measured by stature while standing. The data are based on the WHO's new child growth standards released in 2006.; ; World Health Organization, Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Country-level data are unadjusted data from national surveys, and thus may not be comparable across countries.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Undernourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments such as diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Frequent illness saps the nutritional status of those who survive, locking them into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth (UNICEF, www.childinfo.org). Estimates of child malnutrition, based on prevalence of underweight and stunting, are from national survey data. The proportion of underweight children is the most common malnutrition indicator. Being even mildly underweight increases the risk of death and inhibits cognitive development in children. And it perpetuates the problem across generations, as malnourished women are more likely to have low-birth-weight babies. Stunting, or being below median height for age, is often used as a proxy for multifaceted deprivation and as an indicator of long-term changes in malnutrition.

Abstract

The 2000-2001 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) is a nationally representative survey of 7,246 women age 15-49 and 1,962 men age 15-54. The main purpose of the 2000-2001 UDHS is to provide policy-makers and programme managers with detailed information on fertility; family planning; childhood and adult mortality; maternal and child health and nutrition; and knowledge of, attitudes about, and practices related to HIV/AIDS. The 2000-2001 UDHS is the third national sample survey of its kind to be undertaken in Uganda. The first survey was implemented in 1988-1989 and was followed by the 1995 UDHS. Caution needs to be exercised when analysing trends using the three UDHS data sets because of some differences in geographic coverage.

The 2000-2001 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) was designed to provide information on demographic, health, and family planning status and trends in the country. Specifically, the UDHS collected information on fertility levels, marriage, sexual activity, fertility preferences, awareness and use of family planning methods, and breastfeeding practices. In addition, data were collected on the nutritional status of mothers and young children; infant, child, adult, and maternal mortality; maternal and child health; awareness and behaviour regarding HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections; and levels of haemoglobin and vitamin A in the blood.

The 2000-2001 UDHS is a follow-up to the 1988-1989 and 1995 UDHS surveys, which were also implemented by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS, previously the Department of Statistics). The 2000-2001 UDHS is significantly expanded in scope but also provides updated estimates of basic demographic and health indicators covered in the earlier surveys.

The specific objectives of the 2000-2001 UDHS are as follows: - To collect data at the national level that will allow the calculation of demographic rates, particularly the fertility and infant mortality rates - To analyse the direct and indirect factors that determine the level and trends in fertility and mortality - To measure the level of contraceptive knowledge and practice of women and men by method, by urban-rural residence, and by region - To collect data on knowledge and attitudes of women and men about sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS, and to evaluate patterns of recent behaviour regarding condom use - To assess the nutritional status of children under age five and women by means of anthropometric measurements (weight and height), and to assess child feeding practices - To collect data on family health, including immunisations, prevalence and treatment of diarrhoea and other diseases among children under five, antenatal visits, assistance at delivery, and breastfeeding - To measure levels of haemoglobin and vitamin A in the blood of women and children - To collect information on the extent of child labour.

MAIN FINDINGS

• Constant Fertility: The UDHS results show that fertility in Uganda has remained stationary in recent years. The total fertility rate (TFR) declined from 7.3 births per woman recorded in the 1988 survey to 6.9 births for the 1995 UDHS. Since then, the TFR has remained at the same level. The crude birth rate (CBR) from the 2000-2001 survey is 47 births per 1,000 population, essentially the same as that recorded in 1995 (48 births per 1,000 population).

• Unplanned Fertility: Despite increasing use of contraception, the survey data show that unplanned pregnancies are still common in Uganda. One in four births in the five years prior to the survey were mistimed (wanted later), and 15 percent were not wanted at all. If unwanted births could be prevented, the total fertility rate in Uganda would be 5.3 births per woman instead of the actual level of 6.9.

• Fertility regulation: Increasing Use of Contraception. Contraceptive use among currently married women in Uganda has increased from 15 percent in 1995 to 23 percent in 2000-2001. Most of the increase is due to greater use of modern methods (8 percent in 1995 compared with 18 percent in 2000-2001). The most widely used methods in 2000-2001 were injectables (6 percent), the lactational amenorrhoea method (4 percent), and the pill (3 percent). There has been a shift in method mix since 1995, when periodic abstinence, the pill, and injectables were the most widely used methods. Condom use has also increased from 1 percent in 1995 to 2 percent in 2000-2001.

• Maternal and child health: Antenatal Care. Survey data show that antenatal coverage is very high in Uganda. Women receive at least some antenatal care for more than nine in ten births. In most cases, antenatal care is provided by a nurse or a midwife (83 percent). Doctors provide antenatal care to 9 percent of pregnant women, while the role of traditional birth attendants is insignificant. Only 42 percent of pregnant women make four or more antenatal care visits, while another 42 percent make only two or three visits. Moreover, very few women receive antenatal care during the first trimester of pregnancy. The majority of women (70 percent) receive tetanus toxoid vaccination during pregnancy, with 42 percent of the women receiving two or more doses of vaccine.

• Nutritional Status of Children: Survey data show that there has been little improvement since 1995 in children's nutritional status. Overall, 39 percent of Ugandan children under five years are classified as stunted (low height-for-age), 4 percent of children under five years are wasted (low weight-for-height), and 23 percent are underweight.

• Nutritional Status of Women: The mean height for Ugandan women is 158 centimetres (cm), which is similar to the mean height obtained in the 1995 UDHS. The cutoff point below which women are identified as short in stature is in the range of 140 to 150 cm. Two percent of women are less than 145 cm tall. Another measure of women's nutritional status is the body mass index (BMI), which is derived by dividing the weight in kilograms by the height in metres squared (kg/m2). A cutoff point of 18.5 has been recommended for defining chronic undernutrition. In the 2000-2001 UDHS, the mean BMI for women was 21.9, which falls within normal limits.

• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS: In Uganda, HIV/AIDS has been termed a “household disease”, because nine in ten respondents of either sex knew personally of someone with HIV or who had died of AIDS. Although knowledge of AIDS in Uganda is universal, the level of awareness about the disease is not matched by the knowledge of ways to avoid contracting the virus. The most commonly cited ways are using condoms (54 percent of women and 72 percent of men), abstaining from sexual relations (50 percent of women and 65 percent of men), and having only one sexual partner (49 percent of women and 43 percent of men).

• Mortality : knowledge is uneven. Overall, 58 percent of women know that HIV can be transmitted during pregnancy, 69 percent know about transmission during delivery, and 46 percent know about transmission during breastfeeding. Levels of knowledge among men are similar.

• Knowledge of Symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): STIs have been identified as cofactors in HIV/AIDS transmission. Almost half of women and one in four men either have no knowledge of STIs at all or are unable to recognise any symptoms of STIs in a man. Sixty-four percent of women know of some symptoms of STIs in women and 53 percent know of some symptoms in men. Knowledge of symptoms of STIs among men is generally higher than among women.

• HIV/AIDS testing: Eight percent of women and 12 percent of men report that they have been tested for HIV. Women in their twenties and men age 25-39 are the most likely to have had the test. This test is much more common among respondents living in urban areas, in the Central Region, and in Kampala district and among those who have secondary education.

Geographic coverage

The 2000-2001 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) is a nationally representative survey. But it was not possible to cover all 45 districts in the country because of security problems in a few areas. The survey was hence limited to 41 out of the then 45 districts in the country, excluding the districts of Kasese and Bundibugyo in the Western Region and Gulu and Kitgum in the Northern Region. These districts cover approximately 5 percent of the total population.

Analysis unit

• Household
• Women age 15-49
• Men age 15-54
• Children under five

Universe

The population covered by the 2000 UDHS is defined as the universe of all women age 15-49 in Uganda and all men age 15-54.

Kind of data

Sample survey data

Sampling procedure

The sample was drawn through a two-stage design. The first-stage sample frame for this survey is the list of enumeration areas (EAs) compiled from the 1991 Population Census. In this frame, the EAs are grouped by parish within a subcounty, by subcounty within a county, and by county within a district. A total of 298 EAs (102 in urban areas and 196 in rural areas) were selected. Urban areas and districts included in the Delivery of Improved Services for Health (DISH) project and the Community Reproductive Health Project (CREHP) were oversampled in order to produce estimates for these segments of the population.

Within each selected EA, a complete household listing was done to provide the basis for the second-stage sampling. The number of households to be selected in each sampled EA was allocated proportionally to the number of households in the EA.

It was not possible to cover all districts in the country because of security problems in a few areas. The survey was hence limited to 41 out of the then

Malawi MW: Prevalence of Overweight: Weight for Height: Male: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 10.300 % in 2010. This records an increase from the previous number of 6.200 % for 2009. Malawi MW: Prevalence of Overweight: Weight for Height: Male: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 10.250 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2010, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.900 % in 2006 and a record low of 6.200 % in 2009. Malawi MW: Prevalence of Overweight: Weight for Height: Male: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malawi – Table MW.World Bank: Health Statistics. Prevalence of overweight, male, is the percentage of boys under age 5 whose weight for height is more than two standard deviations above the median for the international reference population of the corresponding age as established by the WHO's new child growth standards released in 2006.; ; World Health Organization, Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Country-level data are unadjusted data from national surveys, and thus may not be comparable across countries.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Estimates of overweight children are also from national survey data. Once considered only a high-income economy problem, overweight children have become a growing concern in developing countries. Research shows an association between childhood obesity and a high prevalence of diabetes, respiratory disease, high blood pressure, and psychosocial and orthopedic disorders (de Onis and Blössner 2003). Childhood obesity is associated with a higher chance of obesity, premature death, and disability in adulthood. In addition to increased future risks, obese children experience breathing difficulties and increased risk of fractures, hypertension, early markers of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and psychological effects. Children in low- and middle-income countries are more vulnerable to inadequate nutrition before birth and in infancy and early childhood. Many of these children are exposed to high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt, calorie-dense, micronutrient-poor foods, which tend be lower in cost than more nutritious foods. These dietary patterns, in conjunction with low levels of physical activity, result in sharp increases in childhood obesity, while under-nutrition continues