ABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Flour , Folic Acid/therapeutic use , Food, Fortified , Neural Tube Defects/prevention & control , Spinal Dysraphism/prevention & control , Vitamin B Complex/therapeutic use , Diet Surveys , Female , Hematinics/therapeutic use , Humans , Incidence , Iron/therapeutic use , Morbidity , National Health Programs/organization & administration , Neural Tube Defects/epidemiology , Neural Tube Defects/etiology , Nutrition Policy , Oman/epidemiology , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Outcome/epidemiology , Program Evaluation , Spinal Dysraphism/epidemiology , Spinal Dysraphism/etiologyABSTRACT
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
Subject(s)
Folic Acid , Dietary Supplements , Iron , Nutritional Status , Food, Fortified , Pregnancy Outcome , Neural Tube DefectsABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Child Nutrition Disorders/diagnosis , Growth Charts , Nutrition Assessment , Obesity/diagnosis , Protein-Energy Malnutrition/diagnosis , Child Nutrition Disorders/epidemiology , Child, Preschool , Growth Disorders/diagnosis , Growth Disorders/epidemiology , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. , Nutrition Surveys , Obesity/epidemiology , Oman/epidemiology , Prevalence , Protein-Energy Malnutrition/epidemiology , Reference Values , Severity of Illness Index , Thinness/diagnosis , Thinness/epidemiology , United States , Wasting Syndrome/diagnosis , Wasting Syndrome/epidemiology , World Health OrganizationABSTRACT
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
Subject(s)
Reference Standards , World Health Organization , Prevalence , Protein-Energy Malnutrition , Malnutrition , Obesity , Thinness , GrowthABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Child Nutrition Disorders/epidemiology , Protein-Energy Malnutrition/epidemiology , Age Distribution , Anthropometry , Body Height , Body Weight , Child Nutrition Disorders/diagnosis , Child Nutrition Disorders/etiology , Child, Preschool , Female , Growth Disorders/epidemiology , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Nutrition Assessment , Nutrition Surveys , Nutritional Status , Oman/epidemiology , Population Surveillance , Prevalence , Protein-Energy Malnutrition/diagnosis , Protein-Energy Malnutrition/etiology , Risk Factors , Severity of Illness Index , Sex Distribution , Thinness/epidemiology , Wasting Syndrome/epidemiologyABSTRACT
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
Subject(s)
Prevalence , Health Surveys , Anthropometry , Age Distribution , Body Weight , Body Height , Protein-Energy MalnutritionABSTRACT
We conducted a study to identify socioeconomic factors associated with unconstrained growth among preschoolers in Muscat, Oman. A sample of children born in 1995 and aged 28-43 months was drawn from the Child Health Registers of 2 health care centres. Sociodemographic data were collected by oral interview and maternal and child anthropometry measured. Regression analysis was used to identify socioeconomic indicators and cut-offs associated with unconstrained growth. Children from households with a monthly income > or = 800 Omani rials and mother's education > or = 4 years attained height-for-age levels comparable to the current international growth reference. By screening using this criterion, we could obtain a suitable sample for the World Health Organization Multicentre Growth Reference Study in Muscat.
Subject(s)
Growth Disorders , Adult , Anthropometry , Body Height , Body Weight , Child Nutrition Disorders/diagnosis , Child Nutrition Disorders/epidemiology , Child Nutrition Disorders/etiology , Child, Preschool , Educational Status , Feeding Behavior , Female , Growth Disorders/diagnosis , Growth Disorders/epidemiology , Growth Disorders/etiology , Humans , Income/statistics & numerical data , Mass Screening , Mothers/education , Mothers/psychology , Nutrition Assessment , Nutrition Surveys , Nutritional Status , Oman/epidemiology , Population Surveillance , Prevalence , Reference Values , Registries , Regression Analysis , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
We conducted a study to identify socioeconomic factors associated with unconstrained growth among preschoolers in Muscat, Oman. A sample of children born in 1995 and aged 28-43 months was drawn from the Child Health Registers of 2 health care centres. Sociodemographic data were collected by oral interview and maternal and child anthropometry measured. Regression analysis was used to identify socioeconomic indicators and cut-offs associated with unconstrained growth. Children from households with a monthly income > or = 800 Omani rials and mother's education > or = 4 years attained height-for-age levels comparable to the current international growth reference. By screening using this criterion, we could obtain a suitable sample for the World Health Organization Multicentre Growth Reference Study in Muscat
