Open AccessProtein-energy malnutrition among preschool children in Oman: results of a national survey
Author(s) -
Deena Alasfoor,
Mahmoud El-Sayed,
Ahmed Al-Qasmi,
P Malankar,
Mini Sheth,
Nithin Prakash
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/2007.13.5.1022
Subject(s) - underweight , wasting , malnutrition , protein–energy malnutrition , medicine , demography , pediatrics , environmental health , body mass index , overweight , endocrinology , pathology , sociology
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.