Regional variation in the prevalence of asthma symptoms among Omani school children: Comparisons from two nationwide cross-sectional surveys six years apart

The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children [ISAAC] highlighted the presence of wide variations in asthma prevalence between and within countries. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in the prevalence of asthma and its symptoms across the different regions of Oman. Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted as part of ISAAC phases I [1995] and III [2001] in two age groups [6-7 and 13-14 years] from nation-wide samples of Omani school children, with 7,067 participants in 1995 [3,893 young and 3,174 older group] and 7,879 participants in 2001 [4,126 young and 3,753 older group]. Over the period of six years, the Sharqiya [Eastern] region continued to have the highest prevalence of self-reported asthma diagnosis and all asthma symptoms in both age groups, with a significant increase in the prevalence of wheeze in the past 12 months [from 8.7% to 13.8%; p=0.002] and asthma diagnosis [from 13.8% to 17.8%; p=0.046] in the young group, and a significant increase in night cough [from 21.6% to 27.8%; p=0.039] in the older group. All other regions had lower prevalence rates in 1995 in both age groups, and showed either no significant change or a decline in one or two of the self-reported asthma symptoms. The prevalence of asthma diagnosis among wheezy children remained unchanged across all regions. In addition, asthma under-diagnosis remains a problem with only 60% of children with severe wheeze reporting asthma diagnosis in both surveys. The geographic variation in the prevalence of self-reported of asthma symptoms among Omani school children persists with further increase in the Sharqiya region. The findings also suggest under-diagnosis and/or poor recognition of asthma which had not improved over time

Prevalence and correlates of obesity and central obesity among Omani Adults

Overweight, particularly obesity is a major risk factor for several important diseases, especially hypertension, coronary heart diseases and diabetes mellitus. Our aim is to determine the prevalence of obesity and central obesity among Omani adults aged >/= 20 years, and to identify the socio-demographic and health variables that correlate to obesity and central obesity in a community based survey [National Health Survey, 2000]. A community based cross-sectional survey representing all parts of Oman was designed in the year 2000. A part of the survey was a door to door interviews including demographic data, weight, height, hip and waist measurements, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose and serum cholesterol for adults aged >/= 20 years. The crude prevalence of overweight and obesity [body mass index >25 kg/m2] was 47.9% for the whole sample, and 46.2% for males, 49.5% for females. The crude prevalence of central obesity [abnormal weight hips ratio] was 49.3% for the whole sample, 31.5% for males, and 64.6% for females. Obesity and central obesity were less prevalent among younger age groups and highly educated subjects. Both obesity and central obesity increased the odds of having diabetes, hypertension and hyperchlostremia. The prevalence of obesity and central obesity is quietly high in Oman. Launching nutritional programs and promotional life style modification programs are recommended

Determinants of women's fertility in Oman

International studies have the inverse relationship of women education and empowerment on fertility. Our aim is to study the association of women education, and empowerment with some of the fertility determinants in a community based survey. A cross sectional survey of the health status of the Omani community was designed. Face to face interviews with 2037 women, who were or had been married including demographic data, fertility patterns, family planning, 2 women empowerment indices [decision making and freedom of movement], and other modules reproductive health, were carried out during the year 2000. About 31% of the sample was considered highly empowered in decision making and the mean number of decisions taken in the household was 4.46 for the overall sample. For freedom of movement, 29% of the sample was highly empowered with a mean number of 3.88 for the overall sample. The mean values of both indices varied significantly according to age, residence, level of education and work status. Higher freedom of movement score women were more likely to have less number of children in the first 20 years of marriage. Women of higher score of decision making index were more likely to have longer closed birth interval Those scored low in the decision making index were more likely to get a child at an earlier age. There is inverse relationship between both education and empowerment and fertility. However, the 2 indices of women empowerment; decision making and freedom of movement were not always predicting the same fertility indicator, as women's empowerment is multidimensional in nature

Relation of smoking to body mass index and central obesity among Omani male adults

Despite the prevalence that smoking has declined in many countries, there is a large increase in the number of young adults starting to smoke and in per capita cigarette consumption. In some studies smoking was associated with a lower body mass index [BMI] and increased waist hip ratio [WHR]. Our aim is to study the association of smoking with BMI and WHR among male adults aged 20 years and above in a community based survey as a part of the National Health Survey, 2000. A cross sectional survey representing all parts of Oman was designed in the year 2000. A part of the survey was door to door interviews including demographic data and inquiry regarding current and former smoking for male adults aged 20 years and above. In addition, taking the weight, hip and waist measurements, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose for them. The crude prevalence of current smoking was 13.3% among adult males and 4.6% of them were former smokers. The mean BMI was non significantly lower among smokers than never or former smokers. There was no significant difference also regarding WHR. Adjusting BMI by 10 different multiple linear regression models for other co-variates; age, educational level, marital status, having hypertension and total fasting glucose intolerance revealed significant association in 3 of them of BMI with smoking status. Non-significant association was revealed for WHR. Current smokers were of low BMI compared to non smokers and ex smokers, and currently light smokers were also of low BMI compared to ex smokers. There was no association of central obesity to smoking status. The association between smoking status and relative weight is modified by social factors as education

Hypertension in Oman: distribution and correlates

International studies have reported increased prevalence of hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors. This work aimed to study the distribution and the correlates of hypertension [HTN-systolic or diastolic] in a community based survey [National Health Survey, 2000]. A cross sectional survey of the health status of Omani community was designed. Face to face interview including demographic data, blood pressure measurement, fasting blood glucose and serum cholesterol, weight, height, waist and hip measurement for 7011 Omani subjects were carried out. Their response rate ranging between about 83% [for fasting blood glucose] to about 91% [for blood pressure measurement]. The crude prevalence of HTN was 33.1%, while the age-adjusted prevalence was 38.3%. Older age groups, male gender, lower level of education, non- working, hypercholesterolemia, being married, obese, smoker or having abnormal waist hip ratio [WHR] or total Impaired fasting glucose [TIFG] were found to be associated with hypertension in bivariate analysis. Logistic models were done to identify the adjusted odd ratio for the overall sample for separate genders and age groups. For the overall sample, subjects aged 60 and above were 5.4 times more likely to be hypertensive than those below forty. Female gender was a protective factor in the overall sample, while it increased the risk by 1.4 times among those aged 60+. Obese or centrally obese subjects were also more likely to be hypertensive. Subjects with impaired fasting glucose, diabetes or hypercholesterolemia were more likely to have hypertension than others in the majority of the logistic regression models. Hypertension is considered as a major public health problem in Oman. Increasing the awareness of both health care providers and the community is crucial