Spina bifida and birth outcome before and after fortification of flour with iron and folic acid in Oman

This paper presents the trend of spina bifida and other neural tube defects in Oman after the nationwide implementation of folate supplementation of pregnant women in 1990 and the fortification of wheat flour with iron and folate in 1996. The annual incidence of spina bifida fluctuated from 2.34 to 4.03 per 1000 deliveries between 1991 and 1996, but fell sharply to 2.11 per 1000 deliveries in 1997, after which the downward trend continued, reaching 0.29 per 1000 deliveries by 2006. The rate of other neural tube defects remained almost constant. The reduction in spina bifida rates in Oman could be linked to the start of flour fortification but not the supplementation programme

Implications of the use of the new WHO growth charts on the interpretation of malnutrition and obesity in infants and young children in Oman

We examined the difference in the prevalence estimates of the outcome indicators for the new World Health Organization [WHO] child growth standard reference [WHO 2006] and the National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS]/WHO reference using the National Protein-Energy Malnutrition Survey dataset. Based on the NCHS/WHO reference, overall prevalence estimates of underweight, wasting, stunting and overweight were 17.8%, 7.4%, 10.9% and 1.3% compared to 11.3%, 7.6%, 13.0% and 1.9% respectively calculated according to the WHO 2006 reference: stunting and overweight showed statistically significantly higher estimates, whereas underweight was statistically significantly lower. The differences were not consistent across age groups

Protein-energy malnutrition among preschool children in Oman: results of a national survey

We assessed the prevalence of underweight, wasting and stunting among preschool children in Oman from March to December 1999. Within each region, samples of males and females in the age groups 0-5, 6-11, 12-23, 24-35, 36-47 and 48-60 months were drawn from the registers of health institutions and the weight and height/length of the children were measured. The total sample comprised 19 440 children; 9911 males and 9529 females. Data were analysed according to the World Health Organization protocols. The prevalence rates of wasting, stunting and underweight were 7.0%, 10.6% and 17.9% respectively at the national level. There were no sex differences