Tobacco control in Oman: it's time to get serious!

Tobacco use is the world's leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. Although Oman remains a country with the lowest tobacco use in the Arab Gulf States, the prevalence of tobacco use is projected to increase to 33.3% by 2025. In 2005, Oman acceded to the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, an international treaty with numerous obligations aiming to reduce the global burden of tobacco use. This paper documents, for the first time, Oman's experience in tobacco control by providing a descriptive analysis of the evolution of tobacco control policies in relation to the country's international obligations. In order to curb tobacco use and maintain current low prevalence levels, the paper concludes that Oman needs to accelerate action in adopting the highest attainable policies recommended by the World Health Organization's MPOWER package

Trends in the risk for cardiovascular disease among adults with diabetes in Oman

This study aimed to investigate trends in the estimated 10-year risk for developing cardiovascular disease [CVD] among adults with diagnosed diabetes in Oman. In addition, the effect of hypothetical risk reductions in this population was examined. Data from 1,077 Omani adults aged >/=40 years with diagnosed diabetes were collected and analysed from three national surveys conducted in 1991, 2000 and 2008 across all regions of Oman. The estimated 10-year CVD risk and hypothetical risk reductions were calculated using risk prediction algorithms from the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation [SCORE], Diabetes Epidemiology Collaborative Analysis of Diagnostic Criteria in Europe [DECODE] and World Health Organization/International Society of Hypertension [WHO/ISH] risk tools. Between 1991 and 2008, the estimated 10-year risk of CVD increased significantly in the total sample and among both genders, regardless of the risk prediction algorithm that was used. Hypothetical risk reduction models for three scenarios [eliminating smoking, controlling systolic blood pressure and reducing total cholesterol] identified that reducing systolic blood pressure to

national strategy for promoting physical activity in Oman a call for action

The increasing prevalence of chronic disease in Oman is a public health challenge. Available evidence in Oman on physical inactivity, the fourth leading risk factor for chronic disease, calls for urgent action to reduce physical inactivity as part of a key strategy to address chronic disease in Oman. The public health implications of this evidence for Oman are considered in light of recommendations outlined in the Toronto Charter for Physical Activity. The charter provides a systematic approach of physical activity and outlines an action plan that could be adapted to the Omani context. Urgent intersectoral action focusing on a shared goal and a more deliberate public health response addressing physical inactivity is required. Further research is needed on the determinants of physical inactivity and culturally appropriate interventions in order to guide future public health actions

Metabolic syndrome and its components secondary analysis of the world health survey, Oman

The study aimed to describe the prevalence of metabolic syndrome [MS] and its components among Omani adults. Methods: The 2008 Oman World Health Survey dataset was used to determine the national prevalence of MS. Logistic regression using all key sociodemographic, clinical and behavioural variables was used to identify the associations of independent variables with MS. Results: The age-adjusted prevalence of MS was 23.6%. MS was significantly associated with age, marital and work status and wealth level. MS was more common for people aged 50 years and older compared to the youngest cohort [OR 3.6, CI: 2.4-5.3; P <0.001] and in people who were married or employed [OR 1.6, CI: 1.3-2.1; P <0.001 and OR 1.3, CI: 1.1-1.8; P = 0.043, respectively] compared to their unmarried and unemployed counterparts. MS was also more common in people in the second lowest wealth quintile [OR 1.6, CI: 1.2-2.2; P = 0.05] compared to the lowest quintile and in those who sat for more than six hours per day [OR 1.3, CI: 1.1-1.7; P - 0.035]. Conclusion: One in four adults had MS in Oman. This may fuel the epidemic of non-communicable diseases [NCDs] in Oman, particularly given the increasingly elderly population. Urgent action is required to ensure quality patient care at all levels of the healthcare system. Further research on behavioural risk factors is needed. Developing and implementing a multisectoral strategy to prevent NCDs should be at the top of the current health agenda for Oman

national study of gynecological morbidities in Oman. effect of women's autonomy

To determine the level of gynecological morbidities and other related morbidities; and to examine the effect of women empowerment on the reproductive tract infections among currently married Omani women. This study is a part of the National Health Survey in the Sultanate of Oman, conducted between January and March 2000. The total number of households selected was 1968 with a total of 2037 ever-married women aged 15-49 years, of them 1662 were eligible to complete the gynecological morbidity symptoms questionnaire and to be clinically examined for gynecological morbidities. Despite the free facilities provided, one in every 4 women had reproductive tract infection and nearly half of the women suffer from at least one kind of gynecological disease. The prevalence of any sexually transmitted diseases was 4%, approximately 10% had combined genital prolapsed and 27% had cervical ectopy. Older women, education, work status, urban residence, heads of households, high economic status, and took their own decision about going to hospital, are significantly more empowered. Gynecological morbidity is highly prevalent among ever-married women. The contribution of the sexually transmitted diseases to the high prevalence of reproductive tract infection appears to be modest. Genital prolapse was one of the risk factors for reproductive tract infection, education as a proxy for women empowerment was a poor predictor for the occurrence of the diseases